Northwestern University researchers have found that a nanoengineered gel inhibits the formation of scar tissue at a spinal cord injury site and enables the severed spinal cord fibers to regenerate and grow.

The gel is injected as a liquid into the spinal cord and self-assembles into a scaffold that supports the new nerve fibers as they grow up and down the spinal cord, penetrating the site of the injury. The scaffold instructs stem cells (which would normally make scar tissue) to instead produce cells that make myelin.

The gel was injected into mice with a spinal cord injury. After six weeks, the animals had improved ability to use their hind legs. It isn’t yet known if the gel works in humans.

Northwestern University News Release