Researchers
have polymerised oestrogen using a new approach and found it is effective at
protecting and regenerating nervous system cells in vitro.
A
biomaterial has been developed by researchers which could offer a targeted
treatment for patients with damaged spinal cords and tissues, preventing
further harm. The study was conducted at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, US.
The
team used a photo-triggered chemical method to synthesise oestrogen into long
polymer chains that, when using electric force, could be spun into fibres
necessary for implantation along the spinal cord.
Central
nervous system (CNS) cells such as neurons and astrocytes were applied to the
polymerised oestrogen in vitro.
The
researchers found that the polymerised oestrogen acted as a slow-releasing
protective and regenerative therapy.
“Oestrogen
is known to be neuroprotective,†said Ryan Gilbert, a professor of biomedical
engineering at Rensselaer. “After spinal cord injury, you have all these free
radicals that are released and cause the injury to increase over time. We’re
trying to stop the spread of the injury. It’s more of an acute phase treatment
we are looking to develop.â€
According
to the researchers, their approach is more precise than traditional drugs that
can often impact the entire system, inducing side effects in other organs.
“This
was the first time polyoestrogen was processed into fibres that showed the
ability to enhance the outgrowth of neural cells along the fibre direction
without adding growth factors,†said Edmund Palermo, an assistant professor of
materials science and engineering at Rensselaer.
The
researchers plan to continue investigating their findings in further
pre-clinical trials and their approach is now being patented.
The research was published in Nature Communications.
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