Good for the Mice! Now Do Humans!!! Injectable Gel Reverses Paralysis In Mice With Damaged Spinal Cords
Mice get all the best drugs!
A single injection of a newly developed drug has been shown to reverse paralysis in mice with severe spinal cord injuries. By mimicking the extra-cellular matrix around the spine, the liquified drug promotes the regeneration of severed nerves and the repair of other vital tissues, allowing the rodents to regain the ability to walk within four weeks.
Describing this breakthrough in a new study in the journal Science, researchers explain how they injected synthetic nanofibers into the damaged tissue of mice 24 hours after making a cut in their spinal cords. Consisting of an array of peptides, these nanofibers quickly assemble into a gel around the wound and begin communicating with cells in order to promote healing.
This is achieved thanks to the release of two vital signals, one of which activates a receptor called b1-integrin in order to promote the regrowth of neuronal connecting arms, otherwise known as axons. The second signal, meanwhile, mimics a molecule called fibroblast growth factor 2, which helps neurons survive by supporting the development of other vital tissues such as blood vessels and myelin, which insulates nerve fibers.