Scaffolds that Deliver Genes to Spinal Cord

“As genetic vectors have short lifetimes in vivo, rapid host cell infiltration into scaffolds is a prerequisite for efficient biomaterial-mediated delivery of transgenes. We [UCLA bioengineers] present scaffolds that can be injected and assembled in situ from hyaluronic acid (HA)-based, spherical microparticles to form scaffolds with a network of macropores (∼10 μm). The results demonstrate that addition of regularly sized macropores to traditional hydrogel scaffolds, which have nanopores (∼10 nm), significantly increases the expression of locally delivered transgene to the spinal cord after a thoracic injury.”   MORE

Image Credit:  UCLA