Spinal Cord Breakthrough: Can FGF1 and Nerve Grafts Restore Movement?

The primary goal is to find effective strategies to repair and restore function after Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). The main approach involves the use of a biodegradable device containing peripheral nerve grafts (PNGs) and fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) to promote nerve regeneration and restore motor function. This combination aims to bridge the damaged area of the spinal cord, enhance nerve regeneration, and potentially bypass inhibitory factors, ultimately improving the local environment to support healing.

Peripheral nerve grafts (PNGs) act as a bridge, guiding regenerating nerve fibers across the damaged area of the spinal cord. FGF1 enhances nerve regeneration and redirects nerve fibers into adjacent gray matter, potentially bypassing inhibitory factors present in the white matter. The combination of PNGs and FGF1 within a biodegradable device is designed to create an environment conducive to nerve fiber regrowth and functional recovery.

The biodegradable device is designed to contain PNGs, with or without FGF1, and it is absorbed by the body, preventing long-term complications associated with implanted materials. The device is crucial for precise placement of the grafts and for improving surgical accuracy. The use of a biodegradable device represents a step towards translational development and potential clinical applications, as it minimizes the need for future interventions related to the device itself.

The success of the spinal cord repair treatment was assessed using the BBB Score to quantify hindlimb motor function recovery, Electrophysiology to measure motor evoked potentials (MEPs), and Immunohistochemistry to examine nerve fiber regeneration. The results revealed that MEPs reappeared in the lower limbs of treated animals, with significant improvements in the group receiving FGF1. The BBB scores improved, and nerve fiber regeneration was observed, indicating enhanced motor function and successful nerve regeneration distal to the injury site.

This research supports the potential of combining PNGs and FGF1 as a strategy for spinal cord reinnervation. The biodegradable device facilitated robust MEPs, augmented by FGF1, indicating a significant step towards translational research and potential clinical applications. Further studies are needed to optimize this approach and assess its long-term efficacy, including detailed assessments of the long-term effects and potential side effects, and scaling up the research to larger animal models before human clinical trials.