The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7498 p462
19 April 2008

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Healing spinal injuries

Peptide amphiphile molecules that self-assemble into nanoscale fibres have been used to treat spinal cord injuries in mice (Journal of Neuroscience 2008;28:3814).

Researchers used a mouse model that mimics the type of damage seen in human spinal injury clinics. The fibres promoted regeneration of descending motor fibres and ascending sensory fibres through the injury site, and led to significant behavioural improvements.

The self-assembly is triggered by ions in vivo so the molecules can be injected as a liquid and assemble in the extracellular spaces of the spinal cord.