Spinal cord injury cure on the way?
Scientists from the Northwestern University in Chicago are currently in the process of developing a cure for spinal cord injuries, which leave patients paralyzed. They are using advanced nanotechnology / nanomedicine standards to try to heal the so far incurable disease, thus allowing the paralyzed to walk again.
Spinal cord injuries in most cases lead to paralysis of the patient, and loss of sensation below the level of injury. This is incurable because the nerve fibers that were damaged can’t be repaired. The nerve fibers have the ability to grow, but can’t do so because of the surrounding scar tissue. The scientists from NUC are working on a type of gel, which would neutralize the scar tissue, thus allowing the nerve fibers to grow and regenerate themselves.
The gel is injected into the spinal cord, and it supports the nerve fibers to grow. The experimental treatment was done in mice with spinal cord injury, and after only 6 weeks they were able to walk.
Everything is still in the experimental phase, and it’s not guaranteed that it will work on humans right away. Nevertheless, this is another further step in spinal cord injury treatment.
