Dual-Functioning Scaffolds for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury: Alginate Nanofibers

Summary

Spinal cord injury demands two things at once - protecting the neurons that survive and encouraging regeneration - and few platforms attempt both. This study develops a dual-functioning scaffold to be implanted locally at the injury site, delivering RC-33, an agonist of the sigma-1 receptor with neuroprotective activity. The fibres combine alginate, a marine-derived polysaccharide, with two grades of poly(ethylene oxide), so that the same structure carries the drug and provides the physical guidance the regrowing tissue needs.

Authors & Affiliations

• Barbara Vigani

  Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
• Silvia Rossi Corresponding

  Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
• Giuseppina Sandri

  Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
• Maria Cristina Bonferoni

  Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
• Marta Rui

  Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
• Simona Collina

  Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
• Francesca Fagiani

  Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy

Linari Electrospinning Systems

Topics

Materials