Acute and delayed implantation of positively charged 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate scaffolds in spinal cord injury in the rat

Abstract

<jats:sec> <jats:title>Object</jats:title> <jats:p>Hydrogels are nontoxic, chemically inert synthetic polymers with a high water content and large surface area that provide mechanical support for cells and axons when implanted into spinal cord tissue.</jats:p></jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>Macroporous hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were prepared by radical copolymerization of monomers in the presence of fractionated NaCl particles. Male Wistar rats underwent complete spinal cord transection at the T-9 level. To bridge the lesion, positively charged HEMA hydrogels were implanted either immediately or 1 week after spinal cord transection; control animals were left untreated. Histological evaluation was performed 3 months after spinal cord transection to measure the volume of the pseudocyst cavities and the ingrowth of tissue elements into the hydrogels.</jats:p></jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>The hydrogel implants adhered well to the spinal cord tissue. Histological evaluation showed ingrowth of connective tissue elements, blood vessels, neurofilaments, and Schwann cells into the hydrogels. Morphometric analysis of lesions showed a statistically significant reduction in pseudocyst volume in the treated animals compared with controls and in the delayed treatment group compared with the immediate treatment group (p &lt; 0.001 and p &lt; 0.05, respectively).</jats:p></jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>Positively charged HEMA hydrogels can bridge a posttraumatic spinal cord cavity and provide a scaffold for the ingrowth of regenerating axons. The results indicate that delayed implantation can be more effective than immediate reconstructive surgery.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Repair of spinal cord injury by implantation of bFGF-incorporated HEMA-MOETACL hydrogel in rats

“…The HEMA-MOETACL hydrogel can bridge posttraumatic spinal cord pseudocyst cavities 23 . The implantation of this bridging hydrogel alone may not have an effect on behavioral improvement in association with scaffold implantation such as has been found in association with stem cells or neurotrophic factors implantation 23,[30][31][32] .…”

In Vivo Biocompatibility of Three Potential Intraperitoneal Implants

“…[22] A recent study investigated the release of two drugs by a PEVA system for the intraoral treatment of oral lesions, blisters, and fungal diseases. [23] PolyHEMA is widely used as a biomaterial in a variety of areas, including eye health care (contact lenses, ocular implants), [17] dentistry, and controlled drug release, [24] and tentatively in orthopedic, neurosurgical [25] and cardiovascular [26] applications.…”

Neural ECM mimetics

“…The material allows the attachment and growth of cells and the transport of small molecules. It can also serve as a guidance substrate for neurons as has been shown for spinal cord trauma (Hejcl et al, 2008). The nonbiodegradable nature can be considered as both advantageous and unfavorable: It ensures the maintenance of a stable scaffold structure over time.…”