Restoration of Motor and Bladder Functions after Spinal Cord Injury via Sustained Wogonin Release from Carbon Nanotube Incorporated Hydrogels

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in structural and neural cell damage, leading to motor and bladder dysfunction. The limited regenerative capabilities and SCI-mediated inflammation exacerbate secondary damage and impede neurological recovery. To enhance neural regeneration and modulate inflammatory responses, a dual-functional scaffold with electrical properties and sustained release of wogonin (Wog), an ingredient in Chinese herbal medicines, was developed. With incorporation of Wog-loaded carbon nanotubes into photocross-linkable gelatin hydrogel, improvements in electrical conductivity and mechanical properties and sustained Wog release behavior of the functional hydrogel enhanced migration and neurogenic differentiation of neural stem cells and vascularization and suppressed pro-inflammatory responses and fibrosis in damaged spinal cord and detrusor and sphincter muscles of bladder, consequently accelerating motor and neurogenic lower urinary tract function recovery. Our work presents a novel strategy for addressing motor and bladder dysfunction after SCI, focusing on promoting neural regeneration and modulating the inflammatory microenvironment.