A newly developed biomaterial shows promising results in spinal cord regeneration.
Each year, an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 people suffer spinal cord injuries, according to the World Health Organization. These injuries, often caused by accidents, falls, or acts of violence, are among the leading causes of paralysis, alongside strokes. However, due to the complex structure of the spinal cord, treatment remains highly challenging. Now, a biomaterial developed at China’s Sichuan University, based on the precious metal ruthenium, offers new hope.
“The spinal cord functions like a highly specialized information highway with countless nerve fibers in a confined space,” explains lead researcher Chong Cheng in Advanced Science News. When an injury occurs, nerve signal transmission is immediately disrupted, making repair extremely difficult. Because nerve cells have limited regenerative capacity, the damage is often irreversible.
Combating Secondary Damage with Ruthenium-Based Material
Beyond the initial injury, secondary damage further complicates recovery. Cheng explains that reactive oxygen species accumulate, damaging DNA and causing severe tissue degradation in combination with inflammation. So far, no effective treatments exist to address these secondary effects, in part because slow nerve regeneration makes clinical studies costly and time-consuming.
To tackle this challenge, Cheng and his team developed a composite material combining ruthenium, copper hydroxide, and collagen. This innovative biomaterial is designed to reduce inflammation and neutralize excess reactive oxygen species, thereby protecting nerve cells. While other research groups have explored antioxidant molecules for spinal cord injury treatment, most approaches involve intravenous delivery or direct injection into the injury site. Cheng’s team believes their method has advantages over natural antioxidants like the enzyme superoxide dismutase, offering greater stability and better biocompatibility.
Promising Laboratory and Animal Studies
In laboratory tests and animal models, the ruthenium-based material outperformed other substances. It significantly reduced inflammation and nerve cell destruction while promoting tissue repair. Rats treated with the material demonstrated markedly improved mobility after 28 days compared to untreated animals.
Despite these promising results, the path to clinical application remains long. The next steps for Cheng and his team include addressing technical and regulatory challenges and exploring partnerships with biotech companies for potential commercialization.
The Versatile Potential of Ruthenium: Beyond spinal cord injury treatment, ruthenium is making waves in other medical fields, such as cancer research. Additionally, its unique properties could play a crucial role in emerging applications like plastic waste recycling and sustainable hydrogen production, further highlighting its potential in cutting-edge technologies.
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