CNS regeneration after chronic injury using a self-assembled nano material

Abstract

To speed up the process of central nervous system (CNS) recovery after injury, the need for real-time measurement of axon regeneration in vivo is essential to assess the extent of injury, as well as the optimal timing and delivery of therapeutics and rehabilitation. It was necessary to develop a chronic animal model with an in vivo measurement technique to provide a real-time monitoring and feedback system. Using non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a manganese (MnCl 2) contrast agent we show a successful chronic injury model to measure CNS regeneration. We also show that a chronic optic tract (OT) lesion is able to heal, and axons are able to regenerate, when treated with a self-assembling nanofiber peptide scaffold (SAPNS). With the combination of the injury model and the time series of scans we were able to show how they can be combined to produce a system that can be used to follow regenerationin vivo to provide real-time feedback during every stage of the regeneration process. We also were able to show that rengeration can be effected 100 days post injury when applied to the chronic wound.