Nanofibres and Spinal Injuries?

Spinal injuries result in debilitating motor impairments. Such injuries are quite common, resulting from road traffic accidents, falls, sporting contexts, explosions etc. There are currently no easy, effective treatments for dealing with the chronic impairments. For example, therapy with stem cells appears to be making only slow/no progress. Robotics may also be helpful but is an expensive, complex option. Studies on mice at Northwestern University, Chicago appear, however, to be opening a promising new line of potential therapy (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/11/therapy-used-in-mice-may-revolutionise-treatment-of-spinal-cord-injuries-say-scientists). The mice were given surgical spinal lesions that left their hind limbs completely paralysed. They then received a single injection of synthetic nanofibres in the damage site. The synthetic material is like the tiny fibres that make up the cytoskeleton of cells. The fluid became a gel, with the nanofibres moving back and forth in the injection site. Within a few weeks, there was regeneration of severed neurons and associated blood vessels. Movement of the hind legs returned and the mice were able to walk again. The nanofibres biodegraded in about 12 weeks. These are very early days but it is hoped to eventually test this procedure on human patients.