Is Graphene Shortening the Path Toward Spinal Cord Regeneration?

Overview

Journal ACS Nano

Publisher American Chemical Society

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2022 Aug 24

PMID 36000717

Authors

Andre F Girao

Maria Concepcion Serrano

Antonio Completo

Paula A A P Marques

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Along with the development of the next generation of biomedical platforms, the inclusion of graphene-based materials (GBMs) into therapeutics for spinal cord injury (SCI) has potential to nourish topmost neuroprotective and neuroregenerative strategies for enhancing neural structural and physiological recovery. In the context of SCI, contemplated as one of the most convoluted challenges of modern medicine, this review first provides an overview of its characteristics and pathophysiological features. Then, the most relevant ongoing clinical trials targeting SCI, including pharmaceutical, robotics/neuromodulation, and scaffolding approaches, are introduced and discussed in sequence with the most important insights brought by GBMs into each particular topic. The current role of these nanomaterials on restoring the spinal cord microenvironment after injury is critically contextualized, while proposing future concepts and desirable outputs for graphene-based technologies aiming to reach clinical significance for SCI.

Citing Articles

Protective effects of diacerein against quinolinic acid-induced Huntington's disease-like symptoms in adult zebrafish by targeting GSK-3β signalling.

Goel F, Dobhal V, Singh S Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2025; .

PMID: 40042555 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-025-03976-5.

Spinal cord injury repair based on drug and cell delivery: From remodeling microenvironment to relay connection formation.

Ma W, Li X Mater Today Bio. 2025; 31:101556.

PMID: 40026622 PMC: 11871491. DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.101556.

Graphene oxide scaffolds promote functional improvements mediated by scaffold-invading axons in thoracic transected rats.

Zaforas M, Benayas E, Madronero-Mariscal R, Dominguez-Bajo A, Fernandez-Lopez E, Hernandez-Martin Y Bioact Mater. 2025; 47:32-50.

PMID: 39877155 PMC: 11772149. DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.12.031.

Using Artificial Intelligence in the Comprehensive Management of Spinal Cord Injury.

Kim K, Jeong J, Ko M, Lee S, Kwon W, Lee B Korean J Neurotrauma. 2025; 20(4):215-224.

PMID: 39803338 PMC: 11711027. DOI: 10.13004/kjnt.2024.20.e43.

Application of Adipose Extracellular Matrix and Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites for Spinal Cord Injury Repair.

Verstappen K, Bieler L, Barroca N, Bronkhorst E, Couillard-Despres S, Leeuwenburgh S Adv Healthc Mater. 2024; 14(3):e2402775.

PMID: 39668418 PMC: 11773115. DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202402775.

References

Karasek M, Swiltoslawski J, Zieliniska A . Ultrastructure of the central nervous system: the basics. Folia Neuropathol. 2006; 42 Suppl B:1-9. View

Zhang Q, Shi B, Ding J, Yan L, Thawani J, Fu C . Polymer scaffolds facilitate spinal cord injury repair. Acta Biomater. 2019; 88:57-77. DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.01.056. View

Geim A . Graphene: status and prospects. Science. 2009; 324(5934):1530-4. DOI: 10.1126/science.1158877. View

Kim J, Yang K, Lee J, Hwang Y, Park H, Park K . Enhanced Self-Renewal and Accelerated Differentiation of Human Fetal Neural Stem Cells Using Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles. Macromol Biosci. 2017; 17(8). DOI: 10.1002/mabi.201600540. View

Fadeel B, Bussy C, Merino S, Vazquez E, Flahaut E, Mouchet F . Safety Assessment of Graphene-Based Materials: Focus on Human Health and the Environment. ACS Nano. 2018; 12(11):10582-10620. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b04758. View

Novoselov K, Geim A, Morozov S, Jiang D, Zhang Y, Dubonos S . Electric field effect in atomically thin carbon films. Science. 2004; 306(5696):666-9. DOI: 10.1126/science.1102896. View

Zhang Y, Ali S, Dervishi E, Xu Y, Li Z, Casciano D . Cytotoxicity effects of graphene and single-wall carbon nanotubes in neural phaeochromocytoma-derived PC12 cells. ACS Nano. 2010; 4(6):3181-6. DOI: 10.1021/nn1007176. View

Godbe J, Freeman R, Burbulla L, Lewis J, Krainc D, Stupp S . Gelator length precisely tunes supramolecular hydrogel stiffness and neuronal phenotype in 3D culture. ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2020; 6(2):1196-1207. PMC: 7575210. DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b01585. View

Gomes-Osman J, Field-Fote E . Improvements in hand function in adults with chronic tetraplegia following a multiday 10-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation intervention combined with repetitive task practice. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2014; 39(1):23-30. PMC: 4270905. DOI: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000062. View

10.

Dominguez-Bajo A, Gonzalez-Mayorga A, Guerrero C, Palomares F, Garcia R, Lopez-Dolado E . Myelinated axons and functional blood vessels populate mechanically compliant rGO foams in chronic cervical hemisected rats. Biomaterials. 2018; 192:461-474. DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.11.024. View

11.

Zhang B, Yan W, Zhu Y, Yang W, Le W, Chen B . Nanomaterials in Neural-Stem-Cell-Mediated Regenerative Medicine: Imaging and Treatment of Neurological Diseases. Adv Mater. 2018; 30(17):e1705694. DOI: 10.1002/adma.201705694. View

12.

Harvey A, Lovett S, Majda B, Yoon J, Wheeler L, Hodgetts S . Neurotrophic factors for spinal cord repair: Which, where, how and when to apply, and for what period of time?. Brain Res. 2014; 1619:36-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.10.049. View

13.

Kim K, Lee K, Coric D, Chang J, Harrop J, Theodore N . A study of probable benefit of a bioresorbable polymer scaffold for safety and neurological recovery in patients with complete thoracic spinal cord injury: 6-month results from the INSPIRE study. J Neurosurg Spine. 2021; 34(5):808-817. DOI: 10.3171/2020.8.SPINE191507. View

14.

Simons M, Nave K . Oligodendrocytes: Myelination and Axonal Support. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2015; 8(1):a020479. PMC: 4691794. DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a020479. View

15.

Lu P, Wang Y, Graham L, McHale K, Gao M, Wu D . Long-distance growth and connectivity of neural stem cells after severe spinal cord injury. Cell. 2012; 150(6):1264-73. PMC: 3445432. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.08.020. View

16.

Fehlings M, Nakashima H, Nagoshi N, Chow D, Grossman R, Kopjar B . Rationale, design and critical end points for the Riluzole in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study (RISCIS): a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled parallel multi-center trial. Spinal Cord. 2015; 54(1):8-15. PMC: 5399137. DOI: 10.1038/sc.2015.95. View

17.

Kadoya K, Lu P, Nguyen K, Lee-Kubli C, Kumamaru H, Yao L . Spinal cord reconstitution with homologous neural grafts enables robust corticospinal regeneration. Nat Med. 2016; 22(5):479-87. PMC: 4860037. DOI: 10.1038/nm.4066. View

18.

Capogrosso M, Milekovic T, Borton D, Wagner F, Moraud E, Mignardot J . A brain-spine interface alleviating gait deficits after spinal cord injury in primates. Nature. 2016; 539(7628):284-288. PMC: 5108412. DOI: 10.1038/nature20118. View

19.

Casha S, Zygun D, McGowan M, Bains I, Yong V, Hurlbert R . Results of a phase II placebo-controlled randomized trial of minocycline in acute spinal cord injury. Brain. 2012; 135(Pt 4):1224-36. DOI: 10.1093/brain/aws072. View

20.

Freund P, Seif M, Weiskopf N, Friston K, Fehlings M, Thompson A . MRI in traumatic spinal cord injury: from clinical assessment to neuroimaging biomarkers. Lancet Neurol. 2019; 18(12):1123-1135. DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30138-3. View