Silva D, Sousa R A, Salgado A J
Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, 4710-057/4805-017, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
Mater Today Bio. 2021 Jan 22;9:100093. doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2021.100093. eCollection 2021 Jan.
Spinal cord injury is extremely debilitating, both at physiological and psychological levels, changing completely the patient's lifestyle. The introduction of biomaterials has opened a new window to develop a therapeutic approach to induce regeneration after injury due to similarities with extracellular matrix. Particularly, hydrogels have the ability to support axonal growth and endogenous regeneration. Moreover, they can also act as potential matrixes in which to load and deliver therapeutic agents at injury site. In this review, we highlight some important characteristics to be considered when designing hydrogels as delivery systems (DS), such as rheology, mesh size, swelling, degradation, gelation temperature and surface charge. Additionally, affinity-based release systems, incorporation of nanoparticles, or ion-mediated interactions are also pondered. Overall, hydrogel DS aim to promote a sustained, controlled and prolonged release at injury site, allowing a targeted oriented action of the therapeutic agent that will be used.
脊髓损伤在生理和心理层面都极具致残性，会彻底改变患者的生活方式。生物材料的引入为开发一种治疗方法打开了一扇新窗口，由于其与细胞外基质的相似性，有望诱导损伤后的再生。特别是，水凝胶有能力支持轴突生长和内源性再生。此外，它们还可作为潜在的基质，用于在损伤部位装载和递送治疗剂。在本综述中，我们强调了在设计作为递送系统（DS）的水凝胶时需要考虑的一些重要特性，如流变学、网孔大小、溶胀、降解、凝胶化温度和表面电荷。此外，还探讨了基于亲和力的释放系统、纳米颗粒的掺入或离子介导的相互作用。总体而言，水凝胶递送系统旨在促进治疗剂在损伤部位的持续、可控和长效释放，使所使用的治疗剂能够进行靶向定向作用。
