NEUROSTIMSPINAL

Neural scaffold for spinal cord repair using graphene and extracellular matrix cues.

Inherently, the central nervous system exhibits limited regenerative capacity. As a result, spinal cord injuries cause partial or total loss of motor and sensory function. To improve our understanding of the key factors controlling repair in damaged neural tissues, the EU-funded NeuroStimSpinal project is working on an engineered neural scaffold that mimics the morphology of the native spinal cord. The scaffold combines graphene materials and a decellularised extracellular matrix to provide electrical, chemical, mechanical and topographic cues to neural progenitor cells. The scaffold will facilitate the progenitor cell differentiation towards neuronal and glial cells, offering an invaluable tool for neuroscience research.