Biomaterial-based Nerve Conduit for Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) happens because of accidents such as work-related, traffic-related, or those because of non-traumatic reasons. Long-term consequences of SCI arise in the form of immobility, loss of motor sensory motion, and other forms of social stress, which can trigger a broad spectrum of medical conditions. Fabricating novel engineered neuronal tissue and maintaining the functionality of the spinal cord are the primary aspects of a successful therapeutic approach. Various methods have attempted to achieve neuronal functional reconnection. However, the patient’s lifestyle is burdened by extended rehabilitation periods, which eventually results in bad prognosis, causing them further complications and failed outcomes. Despite the advancement in clinical management of patient’s life, SCI recovery is severely restricted, and developing novel treatments remains an imperative objective. The principal goal of this research project is to create and optimize innovative MXene-based bioadhesive hydrogels for regenerating torn spinal cord tissue following SCI. In the scope of this work, MXene, which are two-dimensional materials with excellent conductivity and widely tunable properties, have been chosen to endow the composite material with conductive properties. Various sets of MXene samples were synthesized with varying concentrations of HCl acid to assess their effectiveness in enhancing the overall biomaterial’s physicochemical, mechanical, electrical, and biological properties. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel, commonly used for various biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility and natural origin, was used as an encapsulant and scaffold for MXene. The five fabricated GelMA-MXene hydrogel composites were assessed for their properties. Major findings support the hypothesis that our GelMA-MXene formulations exhibited improved mechanical properties (Young’s modulus) compared to GelMA hydrogel alone, as well as excellent electrical properties. Morphological results obtained from SEM showed improved pore distribution, uniformity, and better surface area upon incorporating MXenes within the GelMA matrix, hence the improvement in electrical properties. Biological studies on GelMA-MX-3, including antioxidant assay, MTT, live/dead, and in vitro antibacterial testing, demonstrated that our material is cytocompatible and has antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Thus, GelMA-MXene composites have promising potential as candidates for biocompatible and electrically conductive SCI scaffolds to help maintain cellular functions and provide a platform for nerve regeneration.