Regenerating Damaged Nerves

Researchers at MIT have developed a groundbreaking injectable hydrogel designed to promote the regeneration of damaged nerves by providing a supportive scaffold and delivering healing molecules. This innovation aims to restore sensation and motor control, potentially transforming the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries and spinal cord damage

The gel mimics the body’s natural extracellular environment, providing both structural support and biochemical signals that encourage nerve regrowth. Once injected, it gradually dissolves as the nerve heals.

In trials, damaged nerves recovered function significantly faster compared to conventional treatments. The approach is minimally invasive and adaptable to different injury types.

Nerve damage affects millions worldwide, and current treatments mainly manage symptoms rather than repair damage. This breakthrough points toward true nerve regeneration, not just compensation.

Key Features and Mechanism

• Mimics Natural Tissue: The gel is engineered to mimic the structure and mechanical properties of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding nerves. This provides a physical “bridge” and a conducive environment for nerve cells to grow and reconnect across injury gaps.
• Delivers Healing Agents: Once injected, the temperature-sensitive gel solidifies and gradually releases bioactive molecules, such as growth factors and anti-inflammatory drugs, which accelerate the healing process and direct nerve fibers to grow in the correct direction.
• Minimally Invasive: The treatment is administered as a simple injection, which is less invasive than traditional nerve grafts or complex surgeries. The gel is also biodegradable, breaking down naturally as healthy tissue replaces it, eliminating the need for removal.
• Prevents Scarring: A major challenge in nerve repair is the formation of scar tissue, which blocks nerve regeneration. The gel is designed to inhibit this process, creating a clearer pathway for nerve repair. 

Current Status and Future Outlook

The research has shown promising results in early animal studies, with subjects regaining significant motor function and sensation. For instance, in trials involving rats with severe spinal injuries, many showed partial movement recovery within weeks. 

While the results are encouraging, the technology is still in the experimental stage

Keywords: central nervous system; hydrogels; ischemic stroke; nerve regeneration; neural restoration.

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Gelatin Hydrogel Fabrication and Functionalization Techniques

Due to their inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural resemblance to the native extracellular matrix, gelatin-based hydrogels have garnered considerable attention as scaffolding materials in peripheral nerve regeneration, as they could provide a supportive environment for axonal regrowth and cellular infiltration while enabling the localized delivery of therapeutic agents [24]. However, native gelatin hydrogels often suffer from limited mechanical strength and rapid degradation, which can impede their applicability [25]. To address these limitations, recent research has focused on modifying and functionalizing gelatin hydrogels to enhance their mechanical stability, bioactivity, and integration with host tissue [26]. One widely adopted strategy involves the chemical modification of gelatin with methacrylate groups to produce gelatin methacryloyl, a photocrosslinkable hydrogel that allows for precise tuning of stiffness and degradation rate through light-mediated polymerization [27]. GelMA has demonstrated improved structural integrity and has been shown to support Schwann cell adhesion and proliferation [28]. Additionally, composite hydrogels combining gelatin with other natural or synthetic polymers have been explored to reinforce mechanical performance. For example, gelatin–chitosan and gelatin–silk fibroin composites exhibit enhanced tensile strength and slower degradation while maintaining favorable biological properties [29]. Functionalization with bioactive molecules further enhances the regenerative potential of gelatin-based hydrogels. Incorporation of RGD motifs, which promote integrin-mediated cell adhesion, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-sensitive linkers, which enable cell-mediated remodeling, has been shown to improve host–scaffold interactions [30]. Moreover, gelatin hydrogels have been employed as delivery platforms for neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) [31], as well as pharmacological agents including curcumin, tacrolimus (FK506), methylcobalamin [32], alpha-lipoic acid, deproteinized hemoderivative of calf blood, and B-complex vitamins

source url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12294442

Multifunctional gelatin-based hydrogels for peripheral nerve regeneration: a platform for cellular support, bioactive delivery, and tissue repair. The selected artwork was taken or adapted from pictures provided by Servier Medical Art (Servier; https://smart.servier.com/, accessed on 13 March 2025), licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License