Injectable biomaterial harnesses the immune system to promote brain repair after stroke
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed an injectable hydrogel scaffold that promotes tissue repair after ischemic strokes. The material creates a porous environment that recruits immune cells to support vascular and neural regeneration in the brain.
Why it matters
This innovation addresses the critical gap in stroke treatment where current methods restore blood flow but fail to repair the resulting brain tissue damage.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source In vivo two-photon 16× Z-projection images showing neutrophil (green) infiltration and fluorescent dextran perfused newly formed vascular (red) networks in the infarct region. Credit: Shangjing Xin et al Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed an injectable biomaterial that helps transform the cavity left behind after a stroke caused by a blood clot into an environment more supportive of repair. By recruiting the body's own immune cells, the treatment promoted the growth of new blood vessels, supported neural remodeling and improved motor performance in mice. The work appears in Cell Biomaterials .
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