About this Research Topic
The nervous system, composed of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), is the most complex system in the human body. The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord. CNS-related diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic injuries and strokes prevail all over the world, affecting more than 1 billion people, and about 6.8 million patients die every year. CNS damage cannot be effectively repaired due to the non-regenerability of neurons. Current methods mainly focus on treating symptoms and preventing further adverse events. Even in PNS, which retains some regenerative capacity, functional recoveries after treatment with surgical techniques are very limited. As a result, many patients are permanently disabled with total or partial loss of sensory and motor functions, imposing a heavy economic burden on the family and our society.
Given the current predicament, repairing damaged CNS and PNS present a major challenge for both neurotherapists and neurobiologists. In recent years, neural tissue engineering (NTE) has made impressive progress in the exploration of therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases. NTE constructs grafts that mimic natural ECM structures and provide a suitable microenvironment for nerve regeneration with specific biochemical and topological signals. In addition, NTE can be applied to establish in vitro neurological disease models, which is suitable for studying certain diseases when an animal model is hard to obtain.
Although many advances in NTE-based diagnosis and treatment for neurological diseases were witnessed in basic science, its application in clinical translation was very limited. The development of effective therapeutic strategies and clinical transformation requires a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying tissue damage and regeneration. The research topic focuses on neural tissue engineering and is to explore treatment strategies for neurological diseases with translational potential, as well as the mechanisms behind the nervous system damage and repair.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Tissue engineering strategies and mechanisms for peripheral nerve and spinal cord injury
• Tissue engineering strategies and mechanisms for traumatic diseases of the central nervous system
• Tissue engineering diagnosis and treatment technology and its mechanisms of infectious diseases of the brain and spinal cord
• Tissue engineering diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular diseases and their mechanisms
• Tissue engineering diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain and its mechanisms of action
Given the current predicament, repairing damaged CNS and PNS present a major challenge for both neurotherapists and neurobiologists. In recent years, neural tissue engineering (NTE) has made impressive progress in the exploration of therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases. NTE constructs grafts that mimic natural ECM structures and provide a suitable microenvironment for nerve regeneration with specific biochemical and topological signals. In addition, NTE can be applied to establish in vitro neurological disease models, which is suitable for studying certain diseases when an animal model is hard to obtain.
Although many advances in NTE-based diagnosis and treatment for neurological diseases were witnessed in basic science, its application in clinical translation was very limited. The development of effective therapeutic strategies and clinical transformation requires a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying tissue damage and regeneration. The research topic focuses on neural tissue engineering and is to explore treatment strategies for neurological diseases with translational potential, as well as the mechanisms behind the nervous system damage and repair.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Tissue engineering strategies and mechanisms for peripheral nerve and spinal cord injury
• Tissue engineering strategies and mechanisms for traumatic diseases of the central nervous system
• Tissue engineering diagnosis and treatment technology and its mechanisms of infectious diseases of the brain and spinal cord
• Tissue engineering diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular diseases and their mechanisms
• Tissue engineering diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain and its mechanisms of action
Keywords: Neural Tissue Engineering (NTE), Central Nervous System Diseases, Spinal Cord Diseases, Peripheral Nerve Diseases, Neuropathic Pain
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