Project description
A stimulus responsive 3D neural scaffold for spinal cord injury
Inherently, the central nervous system exhibits limited regenerative capacity. As a result, spinal cord injuries cause partial or total loss of motor and sensory function. To improve our understanding of the key factors controlling repair in damaged neural tissues, the EU-funded NeuroStimSpinal project is working on an engineered neural scaffold that mimics the morphology of the native spinal cord. The scaffold combines graphene materials and a decellularised extracellular matrix to provide electrical, chemical, mechanical and topographic cues to neural progenitor cells. The scaffold will facilitate the progenitor cell differentiation towards neuronal and glial cells, offering an invaluable tool for neuroscience research.
Objective
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating pathology with dramatic lifetime consequences affecting thousands of people worldwide. Therefore, and considering the very limited regeneration ability of the central nervous system, in this project we propose to develop a neural tissue engineered scaffold capable of not only combining fibrous and porous topographic cues in order to mimic the morphology of the native spinal cord, but also potentiating the properties of graphene related materials (GRM) supported in a protein-rich decellularized matrix (adECM). In fact, the suggested 3D microenvironment should present electrical, chemical, mechanical and topographic features able to preserve neural cell survival and enhance neural progenitor cell differentiation towards neuronal and glial cells. Progress in this sense will contribute to a better understanding of the key factors controlling repair in damaged neural tissues and, consequently, bring insights into new therapeutic approaches for spinal cord recovery.
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Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
3810-193 Aveiro
Portugal