Hydrogels for Neural Regeneration: Exploring New Horizons

• Published in: Materials Vol. 17; no. 14; p. 3472
• Main Authors: Omidian, Hossein, Chowdhury, Sumana Dey, Cubeddu, Luigi X
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.07.2024
• Subjects: Alginates; Biocompatibility; Biological activity; Biomedical materials; Cell growth; Chitosan; clinical translation; Collagen; Degeneration; Diabetic neuropathy; Effectiveness; Growth factors; Hyaluronic acid; Hydrogels; Injuries; Mechanical properties; Morphology; Nerves; Nervous system; neural regeneration; neural scaffolding; Peptides; Pore size; Quality of life; Regeneration; Stem cells; Tissue engineering; Transplantation; hydrogels; clinical translation; neural regeneration; neural scaffolding; biocompatibility
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma17143472

Nerve injury can significantly impair motor, sensory, and autonomic functions. Understanding nerve degeneration, particularly Wallerian degeneration, and the mechanisms of nerve regeneration is crucial for developing effective treatments. This manuscript reviews the use of advanced hydrogels that have been researched to enhance nerve regeneration. Hydrogels, due to their biocompatibility, tunable properties, and ability to create a supportive microenvironment, are being explored for their effectiveness in nerve repair. Various types of hydrogels, such as chitosan-, alginate-, collagen-, hyaluronic acid-, and peptide-based hydrogels, are discussed for their roles in promoting axonal growth, functional recovery, and myelination. Advanced formulations incorporating growth factors, bioactive molecules, and stem cells show significant promise in overcoming the limitations of traditional therapies. Despite these advancements, challenges in achieving robust and reliable nerve regeneration remain, necessitating ongoing research to optimize hydrogel-based interventions for neural regeneration.