Advancements in the application of biomaterials in neural tissue engineering: A review
Iyad A Hammam, Ryan Winters, Zhongkui Hong
Abstract
• Neurological disorders directly affect and impede people's daily activities. • The central nervous system presents a challenging environment that inhibits regeneration. • Hybrid scaffolds, seeded with cells and biomolecules, can enhance axonal regeneration following injury. • Hydrogels and nanoparticles are effective for drug delivery in the treatment of brain disorders. • Nerve conduits, decellularized matrices, and self-assembled peptides have shown exceptional potential for treating spinal cord and peripheral nerve injuries. Tissue engineering approaches have revolutionized the treatment of neural nerve injuries caused by disruption to axonal route or tract. Neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), and peripheral nerve injury (PNI) change the intricate architecture, resulting in growth inhibition and loss of guidance over long distances. Neural tissue engineering aims to overcome limitations of cell-based therapeutics. Efforts are being made to create an optimal scaffold using natural, synthetic, and conductive polymers that match the biological, mechanical, and electrical properties of the native neural tissue. Combining biomaterials, cells, and biochemicals promotes axonal regrowth, facilitating functional recovery from neural nerve disorders. This review focuses on the recent advancements in neural tissue engineering technologies and their applications.