Project 2

Application and development of Acellular Matrix Technology as a biological scaffold for spinal cord repair.

Project Description

Background

Processed acellular matrices form the basis of this project. Processed acellulardermal matrix has a 12-year clinical history in the USA with over a million  grafts distributed. It is used in a variety of soft tissue regeneration applications (e.g. burns, scar revision, head and neck reconstructions, periodontal surgery, facial sling, bladder sling, pelvic floor repair, orthopaedic surgery, hernia repair, abdominal wall repair, breast reconstruction following mastectomy). This technology has been applied to nerve grafts in rat feasibility studies to bridge a gap in a peripheral nerve. This study demonstrated, at seven months, that processed peripheral nerve was equivalent or indeed superior to a fresh graft. This evidence strongly supports the hypothesis that an acellular scaffold graft could potentially correct segmental spinal cord defects.

Hypothesis:

When presented with structurally and biochemically preserved matrix containing physiological levels of growth factors and guidance cues, the spinal cord will be able to regenerate its axons along this scaffold.

Primary aims:

• The objective of this program is to develop an acellular, structurally and biochemically intact matrix graft that can be used for spinal cord repair.
• Using a novel acellular processing technology (LifeCell Corp.), we intend to process tissue derived from dermis and spinal cord to bridge areas of injury in the spinal cord and to promote regeneration while inhibiting scar formation.

Here’s where you come in.

We need your help
to speed things along.

We need your support to continue to connect the world’s leading researchers and clinicians with spinal cord patients and their families to remove the barriers and find a solution today and not tomorrow.

That’s the
StepAhead Australia
challenge to you.