Stem cell gel 'could heal brain injuries'
An injectable "biogel" that may help car crash victims recover from brain injuries could be tested on patients in three years.
The material, which contains a cocktail of synthetic and natural chemicals, spurs the growth of neural stem cells, which repair damaged nerves.
After promising results from studies on rats, scientists in America say the treatment could be ready for patient trials in as little as three years.
It is hoped the biogel could also be used to treat wounded soldiers with head injuries.
Modern protective clothing and equipment has meant an increasing number of combat soldiers survive previously fatal head injuries from explosions and gunfire.
response
Dr Ning Zhang, who led the development team, said: "These results that we are seeing in adult lab rats show a sustained functional recovery in the animal model of TBI (traumatic brain injury).
"It also represents one of very few in the traumatic brain injury field that attempts structural repair of the lesion cavity using a tissue-engineering approach."
Current strategies for tackling traumatic brain injury have limited success.
The new procedure involves injecting the biogel into the wound site to direct the response of neural stem cells.
Stem cells are immature "mother" cells that can generate different types of tissue.
Those in the brain produce nerve cells. Chemicals in the biogel help the neural stem cells to regenerate normal brain tissue at the site of damage.
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- John von Radowitz
