title: Polymeric particle-mediated molecular therapies to treat spinal cord injury.
abstract: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a physically and psychologically debilitating condition that mainly affects young, healthy males who are at the peak of their personal and professional development. SCI damages axons and disrupts myelination, which interrupts sensory and motor neuronal function. Current treatments are mostly palliative, aimed at reducing further damage and pain, but do not provide a cure. Polymeric particles have shown tremendous promise to provide patients with effective treatments that can bring partial or full functional recovery. Their unique properties can facilitate delivery of therapeutic agents to the injury site, provide protection from the host immunity or provide platforms to stimulate the regeneration of damaged axons. This review highlights the current benefits and challenges of the use of polymeric particles to control the release of molecular therapeutics as potential strategies for SCI treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Biology Division, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63108, USA. Electronic address: fordikhani@wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ordikhani
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, Saint Louis University, 3507 Lindell Blvd., Saint Louis, MO, USA. Electronic address: ssheth4@slu.edu.
authors.forename: Saahil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheth
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, Saint Louis University, 3507 Lindell Blvd., Saint Louis, MO, USA. Electronic address: szustiak@slu.edu.
authors.forename: Silviya Petrova
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Zustiak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D065546:Drug Liberation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011108:Polymers
keywords: Hydrogels; Molecular therapy; Neurotrophic factors; Polymeric particle; Spinal cord injury