_6e98296023b34dfabc133638c1ef5d32-620x480.jpg "3D Printed Implants Provide Potential New Routes to Repair Spinal Cord Injury")
Summary: Scientists have developed a 3D printed implant that offers electrical stimulation aimed at damaged spinal cord areas, promoting nerve regeneration. The implant mimics the structure of the spinal cord with a fine and electric conductor, which increases the growth of neurons and stem cells in laboratory tests.
By adjusting the fiber design, the equipment improved the effectiveness of the implant, opening possibilities for broader medical use. This innovative approach could revolutionize the treatment for column lesions and beyond, thanks to the collaboration between engineers, doctors and patients.
Key facts:
3D printed implant stimulates nerve repair by delivery of electrical signals. Conductive nanomaterials and customizable fiber patterns improve the growth of neurons. Technology could also be applied to cardiac, orthopedic and neurological healing.
Source: RCSI
A research team of the University of Medicine and Health Sciences of RCSI has developed a 3-D printed implant to administer electrical stimulation to the injured areas of the spinal cord that offers a new potential route to repair the nervous damage.
The details of the implant printed in 3-D and how it works in laboratory experiments have been published in the Advanced Science magazine.
The spinal cord injury is a condition that alters life that can cause paralysis, loss of sensation and chronic pain. In Ireland, more than 2,300 individuals and families live with spinal cord injuries, but there is currently no treatment to effectively repair damage.
However, therapeutic electrical stimulation at the site of the lesion has demonstrated potential to encourage nerve cells (neurons) to grow again.
“Promoting the regrowth of neurons After spinal cord insult has been historically difficult howver ur group is developing electrically conductive biomaterials that could channel electrical electrical stimulation across the injury, helping the body to repair the Damaged Tissue” Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and Professor of Bioengineering and Regenerative Medicine at RCSI and Head of RCSI’s Tissue Engineering Research Group (Terg).
“The unique environment provided by the Amber Center that sees biomedical engineers, biologists and material scientists who work together to solve the great social challenges provide a great opportunity for disruptive innovation like this.”
The study was led by researchers from RCSI’s Trg and the investigation of advanced materials and bioengineering research at the Ireland Research Center (Amber).
The team used ultra thin nanomaterials of the laboratory of Professor Valeria Nicolosi at the School of Chemistry and Amber in the Trinity College Dublin, which are usually used for applications such as battery design and integrated them into a soft gel structure using 3-D printing techniques.
The resulting implant imitates the structure of the human spinal cord and has a fine mesh of small fibers that can lead electricity to our cells. When tested in the laboratory, it was shown that the implant effectively delivers electrical signals to neurons and stem cells, improving their ability to grow.
It was also found that the modification of fiber design within the implant further improved its effectiveness.
“These 3D printed materials allow us to tuning the delivery of electrical stimulation to control the regrowth and can allow a new generation of medical devices for traumatic spinal cord lesions,” said Dr. Ian Woods, a researcher at TERG and first author of the study.
“Beyond spinal reparation, this technology also has potential for applications in heart, orthopedic and neurological treatments where electrical signage can boost healing.”
RCSI and Amber researchers associated with the Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust (IRFU-CT) in the project and gathered an advisory panel to supervise and guide the investigation. The group included severely injured rugby players, doctors, neuroscientists and researchers.
“Through his experience, the advisory panel helped deepen our understanding of the experiences of people with spinal cord injuries, their treatment priorities and emerging treatment approaches,” said Dr. Woods.
“Our regular meetings allowed a constant exchange of contributions, ideas and results.”
Financing: The study was supported by the Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust, Amber, the Advanced Materials Research Center and Research Bioengineering Research and a postdoctoral community of the Ireland Research Research Government.
About this SCI and Neurotch research news
Author: Laura Anderson
Source: RCSI
Contact: Laura Anderson – RCSI
Image: The image is accredited to Neuroscience News
Original research: open access.
“The 3D impression of microlas based on electroconductor mxen in a biomimetic scaffolding based on hyaluronic acid directs and improves electrical stimulation for neural repair applications” by Ian Woods et al. Advanced science
Abstract
The 3D printing of microlas based on electroconductor mxen
There are currently no effective treatments available for the neurotrauma of the central nervous system, although recent advances in electrical stimulation suggest a certain promise in neuronal tissue repair.
The hypothesis that the structured integration of an electroconstructive biomaterial in a scaffold of tissue engineering can improve electroactive signage for neural regeneration is raised.
The 2D TI3C2TX MXENE electroconductors are synthesized from maximum phase powder, which demonstrates an excellent biocompatibility with neurons, astrocytes and microglia.
To achieve the spatially controlled distribution of these MXENES, electrowriting is used for highly organized PCL microlas with 3D printing with variable fiber spaces (low, medium, and high density), which are functionalized with mxenes to provide highly adjustable electroconderas properties (0.081 ± 0.053-18.87.
The embeddation of these electroconductive micro-mallas within an extracellular matrix (ECM) neurotrophic, immunomodulator based on hyaluronic acid (ECM) produced a scaffold composed of MXEne-ECM of MXEne-ECM that supports growth.
The electrical stimulation of the neurons planted in these scaffolding promoted the growth of neuritas, influenced by the fiber space in the micro.
In a multicellular model of cellular behavior, neurospheres stimulated for 7 days with high-density MXEne-ECM scaffolding exhibited significantly increased axonal extension and neuronal differentiation, compared to low density scaffolding and mxen-free controls.
The results demonstrate that the spatial organization of electroconductor materials in a neurotrophic scaffold can improve critical repair responses to electrical stimulation and that these biomimetic MXENO-ECM scaffolding offer a new promising approach to repair the neurotrauma.
