Impeding Glial Scarring Hyperplasia and Activating Axon Neogenesis via Immunomodulatory Microneedle Patch for Spinal Cord Repair
November 2025
TLDR A new microneedle patch helps repair spinal cord injuries by reducing scarring and promoting nerve growth.
The study presents a novel microneedle patch (Z@C-MN) for spinal cord injury (SCI) repair, incorporating Zif-8 nanoparticles and chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) to modulate immune responses and promote axon regeneration. The patch releases zinc ions and ChABC in response to pH changes, reducing inflammation and glial scarring while supporting axon growth and neurogenesis. In vitro, it down-regulates macrophage inflammation and aids neural stem cell differentiation. In vivo tests on 80 rats showed improved motor function recovery, reduced muscle atrophy, and decreased scar tissue formation, indicating the patch's potential for enhancing spinal cord repair and functional recovery. The study highlights the patch's biocompatibility and sustained therapeutic effects, suggesting its promise for clinical application in SCI management.
