Biologic Hydrogel Helps Brain Tissue Regenerate After Injury

An injectable gel made of a combination of synthetic and natural sources may help brain tissue grow at the site of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), claims a new study.

The novel biomaterial, developed by a researcher from Clemson University (SC, USA), has the potential to spur the growth of a patient's own neural stem cells, structurally repairing the brain injury site. The new gel could treat patients at varying stages following injury, and it is expected to be ready for testing in humans in about three years. Besides delivery of stem cells, the hydrogel can also be loaded with a range of different chemicals to stimulate various other biologic processes (such as reestablishing a full blood supply at the injury site), thus potentially providing a much friendlier environment for the donor cells to thrive. In a laboratory trial, eight weeks after treatment with the hydrogel, rats with severe TBI showed signs of making a significant recovery. The study describing the trial was presented at the U.S. Military Research Forum, held during September 2009 in Kansas City (MO, USA).

"We have seen an increase in brain injuries due to combat, but our strategy can also potentially be applied to head injuries caused by car accidents, falls, and gunshot wounds,” said study presenter assistant professor of bioengineering Ning Zhang, Ph.D. "These results that we are seeing in adult lab rats are the first of its kind and show a sustained functional recovery in the animal model of TBI. It also represents one of very few in the traumatic brain injury field that attempts structural repair of the lesion cavity using a tissue-engineering approach.”

Dr. Zhang added that current approaches to TBI have been focused on managing the primary injury using hypothermia or neuro-protection with pharmacologic agents, all with limited success. In previous laboratory studies, Dr. Zhang has already demonstrated the reconstruction of a complete vascular network at the injury site as an initial step toward brain tissue regeneration.

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