Harnessing stem cells and biomaterials to promote neural repair

With the limited capacity for self ‐repair in the adult central nervous system, efforts to stimulate quiescent stem cell populations within discrete brain regions, as well as harness the potential of stem cell transplants, offers significant hope for neural repair. These new cells are capable of providing trophic cues to support re sidual host populations and/or replace those cells lost to the primary insult. However, issues with low level adult neurogenesis, cell survival, directed differentiation, and inadequate reinnervation of host tissue have impeded the full potential of these therapeutic approaches and their clinical ad vancement. Biomaterials offer novel approaches to stimulate endogenous neurogenesis, as well as for the delivery and support of neural progenitor transplants, providing a tissue‐appropriate physical and trophic milieu for the newly integrating cells. In this review we will discuss the various appr oaches by which bioengineered scaffolds may improve stem cell‐based therapies for repair of the central nervous system.
Source: British Journal of Pharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: REVIEW ARTICLE Source Type: research