Abstract
Spinal cord injury is a chronic and debilitating neurological condition that is currently being managed symptomatically with no real therapeutic strategies available. Even though there is no consensus on the best time to start interventions, the chronic phase is definitely the most stable target in order to determine whether a therapy can effectively restore neurological function. The advancements of nanoscience and stem cell technology, combined with the powerful, novel neuroimaging modalities that have arisen can now accelerate the path of promising novel therapeutic strategies from bench to bedside. Several types of stem cells have reached up to clinical trials phase II, including adult neural stem cells, human spinal cord stem cells, olfactory ensheathing cells, autologous Schwann cells, umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cells, adult mesenchymal cells, and autologous bone-marrow-derived stem cells. There also have been combinations of different molecular therapies; these have been either alone or combined with supportive scaffolds with nanostructures to facilitate favorable cell–material interactions. The results already show promise but it will take some coordinated actions in order to develop a proper step-by-step approach to solve impactful problems with neural repair.
Highlights
Regenerative medicine is an exciting and relatively new field of medicine that is still in its infancy
The FGF/Fibrin mixture along with human Schwann-cell grafts has been engrafted to transected rat spinal cords, stimulating fiber regeneration throughout the implant [76]. This has been coupled with an autologous peripheral intercostal nerve segment to bridge a 5 mm gap within the transected rat spinal cords [77]. Even though this is only a small part of the literature supporting the use of Fibrin for CNS repair, it is evident that this biomaterial is a very good candidate for future clinical applications in terms of regenerative therapeutic strategies in chronic spinal cord injury (SCI)
It is evident that more promising therapies will come up in the future regarding chronic SCI
Summary
Regenerative medicine is an exciting and relatively new field of medicine that is still in its infancy. Two main approaches are currently being used and they are discussed in the “Cell therapies” and “Molecular therapies” sections below in order to bring the most promising translational research for chronic SCI to the attention of the scientific community This is crucial, given the overwhelming number of publications, reported over 11,000 within the past five years on such a promising field, leading to the inability of research work to focus on promising therapies that are closer to clinical translation. The key aspect affecting the success of such therapeutic strategies is the use and proper choice of biomaterials for the development of 3D scaffolds to support nerve growth within the cavity lesion, as well as providing trophic factors, biomolecules, and/or cells as delivery systems Due to their importance, we have included a last section with selected biomaterials that we think will be excellent candidates for future clinical applications, given their promising preclinical results
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
