Peripheral Nerve Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels for Treating Spinal Cord Injury

摘要

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is extremely debilitating and is characterized by cavity formation within the tissue. Using experimental injury models, researchers have shown that grafts of peripheral nerve tissue exhibit vast potential to induce regeneration of spinal axons, in part because of the growth-supportive molecules of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Unfortunately, fresh tissue is often immunogenic upon implantation. Our lab previously developed an optimized method to remove immunogenic cellular components from tissue while preserving the native structure of the ECM [1], and this protocol is now used clinically to prepare ECM grafts for bridging human peripheral nerve defects. In applying this ECM scaffold to repair the injured spinal cord, it is desirable to create an injectable formulation that can applied into the cavity without the need for incising host tissue. To this end, we have created an injectable hydrogel derived from peripheral nerve ECM which exhibits thermal gelation under physiological conditions. Herein we detail the chemical, mechanical, and topographical characterization of this novel material as well as demonstrate in vitro biocompatibility.