Νέα εμφυτεύματα νωτιαίου μυελού δείχνουν ελπίδα για την ανάρρωση από SCI

A team of engineers from the University of Auckland has demonstrated major progress towards creating an implantable electronic device designed to enable those suffering from spinal cord injury to recover functionality. The lightweight implant could revolutionize spinal injury treatment moving forward. Here’s what you need to know.

Τραυματισμοί του νωτιαίου μυελού

Your spinal cord is made from tubelike tissue that runs from the back of your skull down your vertebrae to your lower lumbar. It serves a vital role as the main highway for your nervous system and brain to communicate with the rest of your body. Specifically, it’s responsible for crucial tasks like reflexes and controlling your motion.

Ο κρίσιμος ρόλος που παίζει το νωτιαίο σας μυελό στη βιολογία σας δεν μπορεί να υπερεκτιμηθεί. Ως εκ τούτου, οποιαδήποτε βλάβη στο νωτιαίο μυελό μπορεί να οδηγήσει σε διάφορα προβλήματα, όπως νευροπαθητικός πόνος, απώλεια κινητικών και αισθητηριακών ικανοτήτων, ανεξέλεγκτες εντερικές λειτουργίες και ακόμη και σεξουαλική δυσλειτουργία.

According to recent μελέτες, πάνω από 15 εκατομμύρια άνθρωποι ζουν σήμερα με τραυματισμό του νωτιαίου μυελού (SCI) παγκοσμίως. Αυτοί οι τραυματισμοί κυμαίνονται από ελαφρά ενόχληση μέχρι αδυναμία ολοκλήρωσης βασικών καθημερινών εργασιών. Μικρές δραστηριότητες όπως η χρήση του μπάνιου ή η προετοιμασία γεύματος μπορούν να γίνουν αδύνατες για όσους υποφέρουν από SCI. Το χειρότερο είναι ότι φαίνεται να υπάρχει μια τάση προς αύξηση των SCI στο μέλλον. Εκτιμάται ότι επιπλέον 200-500 χιλιάδες άνθρωποι θα υποφέρουν από SCI φέτος.

Γιατί οι τραυματισμοί του νωτιαίου μυελού είναι τόσο δύσκολο να θεραπευτούν

There are many aspects of SCIs that make them more difficult to deal with than other injuries. For one, the spinal cord doesn’t heal at the same pace as other body parts. Consequently, any damage done to it during your life could become permanent.
Researchers recognized long ago that creating a treatment that enabled the spinal cord to regenerate effectively would be a game changer. Given the severity of most SCIs, it’s understood that even minor upgrades to a patient’s functionalities translate into big wins in terms of quality of life.

Methods To Treat Spinal Cord Injuries

Researchers have attempted many different approaches in their search to discover an effective treatment for SCIs. One approach that has seen momentum is the use of low-frequency electric fields with changing polarity.  Specifically, high-frequency neuromodulation pulses to the spinal cord have been found to help stimulate regeneration.
This treatment relies on electrodes that are implanted into the muscle located directly above the dura mater. This approach gained speed after researchers found success in non-human patients, including lampreys, guinea pigs, and dogs. This success led to the first human patients receiving the treatment.

How the Spine Forms

This treatment strategy works due to how electric fields help to shape early nervous system development. When your body begins to develop, electrical fields help the spinal cord follow its path from the brain stem to your lower back. Notably, these electrical pulses encourage tissue and nerve growth.

Problems with Current SCI Treatments

While the science of using electrical pulses to treat SCIs is still being researched, there have been some roadblocks to further adoption. For one, previous treatments relied on implanted electrical nodes. These nodes were made from metal that can corrode over time, reducing the treatment’s effectiveness and potentially leading to other complications.

Επιπλέον, η τοποθέτηση αυτών των ηλεκτροδίων μπορεί να οδηγήσει σε ακανόνιστες μετρήσεις, περιορίζοντας την ικανότητα της θεραπείας να ενθαρρύνει τη μακροπρόθεσμη αναγέννηση. Επίσης, η εύρεση του κατάλληλου σήματος και της ισχύος για τη βελτιστοποίηση της χαμηλής συχνότητας διέγερσης έχει αποδειχθεί δύσκολη λόγω της υποβάθμισης του σήματος με την πάροδο του χρόνου, εξαιτίας των προβλημάτων διάβρωσης.

Sadly, as the nodes begin to corrode, they can cause bodily harm, altering your PH and introducing metal by-products and ions into your body. Thankfully, a team of scientists has put forth a new approach that could help to solve many of these issues, helping millions who suffer from SCIs globally.

Spinal Cord Implants Study

A team of engineers from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, demonstrated a novel treatment method for SCI in the “Daily electric field treatment that improves functional outcomes after thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in rats” study.

This paper delves into the creation of an advanced ultra-thin-film device designed to be implanted under the dura mater. The implant uses supercapacitor electrodes and low frequencies to enhance bio-tolerability, making it easier to create long-term treatment strategies.

Πηγή – University of Auckland

Designed to Not Impede Life

The engineers understood that their implant needed to be ultra-thin to comfortably remain in place. They started by reimagining the electrodes. They did away with the metal ones used in previous approaches. Instead, electrodes coated in sputtered iridium oxide films (SIROF) were used.
These electrodes were sized up to improve their capabilities as well. Notably, the electrodes are meant to be directly implanted on the spinal cord, where they can apply a small current to the injured site. Keenly, the researchers tried several approaches before deciding on this particular thin-film fabrication method and device.

Alternate the Polarity

The new spinal cord implant system applies an alternating charge every 15 minutes to the damaged tissue. This charge is set at ~0.5 mHz, enabling it to assist in axon outgrowth in both directions.  Specifically, the device utilizes a 250-ms pulse width stimulation. Impressively, this pulse is much longer than traditional approaches and can operate without any die-back exposure from the electrodes.

Spinal Cord Implants Test

The scientist took 12 weeks to demonstrate the feasibility of their study. The testing phase involved implanting the device into lab rats. Rats are one of the few animals that can recover naturally from spinal cord injuries, making them an ideal starting point for this work.
The engineers conducted 4 weeks of treatment and then monitored the animals’ responses. At the end of the test, the rat’s spinal cord tissue was examined. Crucially, both treated and non-treated rats were tested to see exactly what enhancements to the healing process the new treatment provides.

Spinal Cord Implant Results

The results of the test were impressive. The engineers noted that the treatment safely restored movement to rats following severe spinal cord injuries. The animal began to show signs of recovery of both movement and sensation.

As part of the test, the rats’ paws were subjected to a small electrical current. The rats that had received the treatment recognized and could feel the electrical current in the test, reacting accordingly and pulling away. Impressively, they showed improved healing from week 1 of the testing versus non-treated rats.

The data suggest that the subdural stimulation enabled the subjects to regain hind limb function and touch sensitivity. Additionally, the approach didn’t inflame the spine like traditional approaches. They noted that the electrodes did diffuse into the surrounding tissue like their metal predecessors.

The team then studied the electrodes to see if they produced any harmful by-products or side effects after the implant. There was no contamination, meaning that this approach allows engineers to apply the treatment more frequently and with less risk. Lastly, the test results show that the treated rats showed improved performance on a variety of motor skill tests, alongside greater cell counts in motor-related brain regions.

Spinal Cord Implants Benefits

Many benefits could make spinal cord implants a game-changer. For one, there’s no effective long-term treatment for spinal cord injuries. This approach will open the door for further research into the long-term effects of electrostimulation on the body.
The new system offers patients longer stimulation periods. Specifically, the report notes that the new cathodes outperform their predecessor by 1000X, meaning that the treatment can deliver stronger doses without causing any harm to the patient.

Less Power

The engineers noted that the alternating polarity approach is energy efficient. It uses only a fraction of the energy that other implant-based treatments require. This low energy requirement means that the device can be powered by the body using piezoelectronics or other methods other than batteries.

Greater Penetration

Another major plus is that the larger electrodes provide deeper penetration of the EF within the spinal cord. The deeper the low-frequency signals can go, the more effective the body’s response. Impressively, the device improves electrical pulse penetration while lowering energy consumption.

Comfortable Design

One of the biggest benefits of this approach is that the implant doesn’t cause any discomfort in the wearer. The original approach utilized a much larger device that could become a nuisance to the wearer, creating potential risk of damage and more. The new approach, using ultra-thin devices, means that the unit can be worn without the patient noticing.

Safer Usage

The team was quick to point out how the new treatment is much safer than alternative methods. Specifically, the team documented far less inflammation in patients. There were no cases of spinal cord damage, and the treatment did not produce irreversible faradaic reactions at the electrode-tissue interface like its predecessors. Additionally, the body doesn’t create an immune response to the device.

Spinal Cord Implants Real-World Applications & Timeline:

There are many real-world applications for spinal cord implant technology. The obvious use case scenario is in helping the millions of people who suffer from SCIs around the world live a better life. This approach represents a monumental leap in effective treatment strategies.

Timeline

It could be 7-10 years before this technology begins to make its way into the medical field officially. There is still a lot of research that needs to be done on the long-term effects of the treatments. Additionally, the engineers will spend years getting approval from regulators due to the complexity of the treatment and the effects of any mishaps on patients.

Spinal Cord Implant Researchers

The Spinal Cord Implants study was put forth by engineers from the University of Auckland and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. The paper lists Dr. Bruce Harland as the lead researcher for the study. Additionally, he had support from Professor Darren Svirskis, Maria Asplund, and several other scientists from accredited universities.

Spinal Cord Implants Future

The future of this technology is bright. The team will now focus on taking what they have learned to create a reliable and accurate medical device. The device could one day benefit millions of people living with these life-changing spinal cord injuries. Additionally, the group will delve deeper into researching vital aspects of the treatment, like frequency, duration, and the use of medications in conjunction with the approach.

Investing in Health Sciences

The medical device manufacturing sector is a competitive industry that has several dominating players. These companies produce products designed to help those suffering from serious ailments. Their dedication to advancing scientific research and health makes these companies a favorite of investors. Here’s one firm leading the charge and helping to take treatments to the next level.

Tiziana Life Sciences (TLSA)

Tiziana Life Sciences (TLSA ) entered the market in 2013. This London-based biotech firm specializes in the research and development of treatments for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases like MS, ALS, Alzheimer’s, and more. The company’s unique approach and technology have helped it to become a recognized name among spinal cord injury treatment providers.