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This innovation developed by researchers at Wits University is a neurosponge for the restriction, repair and regeneration of damaged neuronal tissue.
About
This innovation developed by researchers at Wits University is a neurosponge for the restriction, repair and regeneration of damaged neuronal tissue. Traumatic spinal cord injuries, due to their devastating nature, present several interventional challenges which include: extensive inflammation, scar formation, neuronal degeneration and functional loss. These need to be addressed before even a slight neuronal recovery can be achieved. Available biomaterials, acting as nerve conduits to allow directed axonal growth, have had little success in providing an effective repair means. The approach developed at Wits utilizes a specialized polymer engineered to act as a neural sponge that addresses these challenges by acting as a scaffold for neuronal regeneration.
Key Benefits
1. Mimics the neuronal matrix 2. Provides localized delivery of therapeutics 3. A platform for neuronal regeneration
Applications
1. Regenerative medicine 2. Drug delivery implants 3. Neural injuries intervention