Microfibers That Rebuild The Spinal Cord

Although it is in its early stages, we are facing an ambitious project that can achieve recovery from spinal cord injuries

Recent tests in mice are making important advances in the spinal cord. In fact, cells have already been regenerated.

This system has not yet been implanted in humans. Currently, tests on mice are still being carried out.

Research on the spinal cord

First of all, it should be mentioned that the tests have been carried out by researchers from the United States. These have managed to regenerate mature nerve cells in the spinal cord of mice.

The conclusions show how the so-called glial cells, the most abundant in our nervous system, can be transformed into more primitive cells. Thus, these new cells will develop into adult nerve cells.

This regeneration of mature nerve cells is a major achievement. In addition, it would translate into better therapies for patients with spinal cord injuries.

One of the study’s authors, Chun-Li Zhang, has stated that the foundations of regenerative medicine for spinal cord injuries have been laid .

Cell regeneration can be manipulated to achieve the creation of new nerve cells after a spinal injury.

Once confirmed in future studies, these strategies will pave the way for using the patient’s own glial cells. In this way, transplants and the need for immunosuppressive therapy would be avoided.

Spinal cord injuries

As we know, spinal cord injuries can cause irreversible damage to the neural network.
In the most severe cases, motor and sensory functions can even be compromised.

Remember that the spinal cord does not have to undergo a complete section to experience loss of function. Very often, after a spinal cord injury, most of the cords remain intact.

On the contrary, spinal cord injury is not always directly related to back or neck injuries. For example, this is the case of disc ruptures, spinal pathologies, etc. Therefore, it is perfectly possible that there is an injury to the neck or back, but that the spinal cord does not suffer any damage.

Grants at the National Center for Paraplegics

In Toledo there is the National Hospital for Paraplegics. It depends on the Health Service of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). This Center has received five million euros, from the European Commission.
The project of this Hospital, for which the funds have been donated, is called Neurofibres.

It is about studying and developing biofunctionalized electroconductive microfibers. The goal is to treat the spinal cord injury.

Neurofibres Project

This is one of twelve projects chosen, out of more than 200, that were submitted to the European Future Emerging Technologies (FET) program.

Dr. Jorge Eduardo Collazos directs and coordinates this project. It has the participation of a consortium of seven research groups, from six European countries.

In addition, he directs the Neural Repair and Biomaterials Laboratory of the National Paraplegic Hospital.

• The duration of Neurofibres is four years. It started in January 2017 and will last until December 2020.
• Its objective is to develop devices that serve as a biologically safe and effective electroactive support for the regeneration of the Central Nervous System. Also for the activation of neural circuits in the spinal cord.

The field of work of Neurofibres will be twofold. On the one hand, the improvement of the properties of microfibers.
On the other hand, the investigation of the usefulness of this pioneering technology to promote neural growth.

The project coordinators have stated that the scope of study will focus on:

• Tests to check its biocompatibility.
• The regenerative responses of nervous tissue.
• Functional recovery in motor and sensory aspects.

The participation of surgeons is important in this project. Consequently, they will be the ones who will be able to develop new complex surgical techniques.

Ultimately, these techniques will make the success of the project possible.

Neuroprosthesis from microfiber

From now on, more efficient neuroprostheses will be manufactured with these new microfibers , for example, for their integration into the spinal cord.

Among the advantages of these microfibers is a greater sensitivity when stimulating and receiving signals from neurons compared to the use of metal electrodes. In addition, the damage produced is less.

Microfibers have enormous potential  yet to be discovered and evolved. While they can regenerate tissues, they also activate the growth of the glia and neurons.