RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Silk-elastin-like polymers for acute intraparenchymal treatment of the traumatically injured spinal cord: A first systematic experimental approach A1 González, Pau A1 González Fernández, Carlos A1 Maqueda, Alfredo A1 Pérez, Virginia A1 Escalera Anzola, Sara A1 Rodríguez de Lope, Ángel A1 Arias Vallejo, Francisco Javier A1 Girotti, Alessandra A1 Rodríguez, Francisco Javier K1 Spinal cord - Diseases K1 Spinal cord - Wounds and injuries K1 Médula espinal - Enfermedades K1 Spinal cord - Wounds and injuries K1 Médula espinal - Lesiones y heridas K1 Polymers in medicine K1 Polímeros en medicina K1 Biomedical materials K1 Materiales biomédicos K1 Biomateriales K1 32 Ciencias Médicas K1 2403 Bioquímica K1 3312 Tecnología de Materiales AB Despite the promising potential of hydrogel-based therapeutic approaches for spinal cord injury (SCI), the need for new biomaterials to design effective strategies for SCI treatment and the outstanding properties of silk-elastin-like polymers (SELP), the potential use of SELPs in SCI is currently unknown. In this context, we assessed the effects elicited by the in vivo acute intraparenchymal injection of an SELP named (EIS)2-RGD6 in a clinically relevant model of SCI. After optimization of the injection system, the distribution, structure, biodegradability, and cell infiltration capacity of (EIS)2-RGD6 were assessed. Finally, the effects exerted by the (EIS)2-RGD6 injection—in terms of motor function, myelin preservation, astroglial and microglia/macrophage reactivity, and fibrosis—were evaluated. We found that (EIS)2-RGD6 can be acutely injected in the lesioned spinal cord without inducing further damage, showing a widespread distribution covering all lesioned areas with a single injection and facilitating the formation of a slow-degrading porous scaffold at the lesion site that allows for the infiltration and/or proliferation of endogenous cells with no signs of collapse and without inducing further microglial and astroglial reactivity, as well as even reducing SCI-associated fibrosis. Altogether, these observations suggest that (EIS)2-RGD6—and, by extension, SELPs—could be promising polymers for the design of therapeutic strategies for SCI treatment. PB MDPI SN 1999-4923 YR 2022 FD 2022 LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/60407 UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/60407 LA eng NO Pharmaceutics, 2022, Vol. 14, Nº. 12, 2713 NO Producción Científica DS UVaDOC RD 16-jul-2024