SEARCH FOR SCI CURE: Nanoparticles promote functional healing following spinal cord injury

Bioengineers designed nanoparticles that lure immune cells away from spinal cord injuries, resulting in less damaging inflammation. In addition, the smaller number of immune cells that arrive at the injury site switch to an anti-inflammatory profile and produce factors that promote regenerative healing that can preserve function.

Paralyzing damage in spinal cord injury (SCI) is often caused by the zealous immune response to the injury. National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)-funded engineers have developed nanoparticles that lure immune cells away from the spinal cord, allowing regeneration that restored spinal cord function in mice.

Just as in the brain, the spinal cord has a blood brain barrier that protects the delicate nerves from potential damage from various insults, including blocking immune cells from moving in to clean up debris from the injury. When the spinal cord suffers a traumatic injury, the blood brain barrier is damaged, and the rapid influx of immune cells creates an environment that aims to quickly shore-up the injury, yet also inhibits regenerative processes that can successfully rebuild and reconnect delicate damaged nerves.

Now, researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have developed a strategy that redirects many immune cells away from the injury while also inducing those that do reach the SCI to switch to an anti-inflammatory profile, producing factors that foster a regenerative healing process, which can preserve function. Read the rest of these findings HERE.