title: Bioengineering solutions for neural repair and recovery in stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review discusses emerging bioengineering opportunities for the treatment of stroke and their potential to build on current rehabilitation protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bioengineering is a vast field that ranges from biomaterials to brain-computer interfaces. Biomaterials find application in the delivery of pharmacotherapies, as well as the emerging field of tissue engineering. For the treatment of stroke, these approaches have to be seen in the context of physical therapy in order to maximize functional outcomes. There is also an emergence of rehabilitation that engages engineering solutions, such as robot-assisted training, as well as brain-computer interfaces that can potentially assist in the case of paralysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stroke remains the main cause of adult disability with rehabilitation therapy being the focus for chronic impairments. Bioengineering is offering new opportunities to both support and synergize with currently available treatment options, and also promises to potentially dramatically improve available approaches.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  See the Video Supplementary Digital Content 1 (http://links.lww.com/CONR/A21).
authors.affiliation: aMcGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine bDepartment of Radiology cDepartment of Bioengineering dDepartment of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation eDepartment of Neurological Surgery fDepartment of Surgery gDepartment of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Modo
authors.forename: Fabrisia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Badylak
authors.forename: Lawrence R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Wechsler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057005:Bioengineering / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*