The Use Of Nano Structured Neural Scaffolds For Neural Regeneration

The central nervous system (CNS) comprises grey matter, which contains neuron cell bodies and white matter, which contains the nerve axons. Most of the nerve axons are concentrically wrapped around by lipid-rich biological membrane, known as the myelin sheath. In the CNS, myelin is produced by oligodendrocyte. a type of glial cell. (Pfeiffer et al., 1993). These electrical insulating, multilamellar membranes significantly increase the electrical resistance, in which to prevent leakage of electrical currents from the axons, as well as decrease electrical capacitance to reduce the ability of the axons to store electrical energy (Shivane &

There are many different types of stem-cells which can be implanted in patients to regenerate or replace the damaged or abnormal cells caused by not only diseases like Parkinson's but also Alzheimer's and spinal cord injuries (2). A specific example in relation to Parkinson's is the harvesting of embryonic stem cells. These human embryonic stem cells can be transplanted into the brain to replace and create dopamine neurons. The controversy is in how one can obtain these stem cells. During fertilization, in humans, the embryo is hollow and contains cells that eventually develop into a fetus (1). Researchers have discovered, as recently as 1998, that the cells in the embryo contain all

“Genetic engineering and drug development can cure and therapies of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, so embryonic stem cells in not the only way to treat patients” (McLean 3). People witness the development of cancer treatments with the enhancement of more effective drugs. Also, nanotechnology allows scientists to deliver drugs only to the cancerous cells, so that the nearby healthy cells remain unaffected. Genetic engineering provides prospect in curing Parkinson’s disease which causes loss of body control. “Scientists develop Parkinson’s disease in laboratory mice to and genetically engineer their nerve cells to make them become light sensitive. When these nerve cells are exposed to light, then nerve impulses travel along them and the mice are again able to move their bodies” (McLean 4). People speculate that this discovery can be used to cure Parkinson’s in humans. Critics of embryonic stem cell research believe that people don’t need to pursuing embryonic stem cell research will be negated by promising advances in drug development and genetic

Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Huntington's Disease (HD) are neurodegenerative diseases that are caused by malfunctions within the motor sector of the nervous system. These malfunctions, which are caused either by the surplus (as in HD) or absence (as in PD) of hormones, are a direct result of neural cell deterioration within the brain. PD and HD illustrate two very different behavioral patterns that are subsequently caused by two opposite and extreme biological abnormalities. Yet the common thread between the two conditions is that there are major mechanical predicaments arising between cellular connections within the brain.

“...neurons of the peripheral nervous system have a greater ability to regenerate. However...this is often both incomplete and inadequate.” (Kulraj et al, 2016)

Studies on nerve fibers’ longitudinal growth, axons’ regeneration and structural plasticity of axons and dendrites illustrated that they are restricted to short distances and limited spatial dimensions in the CNS. Scientists recognized that neural repair required plasticity, sprouting, and regeneration, which was limited within the adult CNS. However, once adult CNS axons from multiple areas successfully regenerated into peripheral nerve grafts in the spinal cord, brain, or optic nerve, scientists discovered the key role of local tissue microenvironment in determining the extent of growth. Scientists discovered neurite growth inhibitor factors enriched in myelin such as Nogo-A, myelin proteins, MAG and OMgp, semaphorins and ephrins, and chondroitin sulphate

Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s. Brain Tumor. Hear any one of these triad of diseases and almost certainly, you diagnose yourself with an untimely death. And why should you not? A large percentage of the time, brain diseases are not curable, and treatment options remain very limited to none at all. However, thanks to a team at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, the possibility of a huge breakthrough in neurological treatment may be imminent. Under the leadership of Todd Mainprize, MD and Kullervo Hynynen, PhD, this team has astoundingly broken the blood-brain barrier(BBB).

Up until now, studies on cell replacement therapy focused primarily on areas outside of the degenerated substantia nigra with the thought being that cell replacement of dopaminergic neuroblasts into the substantia nigra would not be capable of extending axons to reach the striatum. Recently, however, research has shown promising results when transplanting dopaminergic neuroblasts directly into the substantia nigra in animal models when using the correct methods. These new methods include using antibodies that recognize graft species-specific proteins. By using this method, in addition to others, long distance axonal growth, which is necessary for transplantation directly into the substantia nigra to be effective, has been observed. This will allow for a more effective treatment of the disease (Garcia, D'Alessandro, Bioulac,

There are many diseases and disorders in the world that can attack a human’s body and destroy certain organ systems in the process. In this paper, you will learn about a particular disease that has been studied by many scientists and doctors for decades. Research hospitals such as Mayo Clinic and John Hopkins University have studied Alzheimer’s disease in order to come to conclusions on what the disease is and what can cure the disease. This disease can cause critical damage to a human’s body from the symptoms to the treatment that is followed by the diagnosis. In the following paper, we will discover the symptoms, the organs affected, and the treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

It has been well established that α- synuclein plays a role in the pathogenesis of PD (Spillantini MG et al., 1997; Wakabayashi et al 2007; Polymeropoulos MH et al., 1997; Singelton et al., 2003; Maries E et al., 2003). α-synuclein accumulates within the SN neurons, where it is trapped inside granules of pigments during the synthesis of neuromelanin much before there is evidence that neuromelanin is depleted in PD (Fasano M et al, 2003; Ikemura M et al, 2008; Michell AW et al., 2005). In PD, the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is also affected which is demonstrated by the fact that α-synuclein is also found in aggregates throughout the nervous system, including, enteric nervous system, sympathetic ganglia, submandibular gland, cardiac and pelvic plexuses, the skin and adrenal medulla (Shishido et al, 2010; Wakabayashi et al., 2010). It has been shown that α-synuclein immunoreactivity is increased in cutaneous peripheral nerves of PD when compared to those with other neurodegenerative disorders (Paisan Ruiz et al., 2009).

Unraveling the code to PD Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that directly affects the central nervous system, leaving the victim with debilitating impairment of their motor function. Several decades of research and advancement in technology has led scientists, physicians, and patients to the latest possible cure for Parkinson's disease, stem cells. PD is known to affect the midbrain, where the substantia nigra produces dopamine that directly affects the autonomic nervous system. Studying the nerve cells in this region of the brain and culturing them to become IPS (Induced-pluripotent stem) cells, we may better understand the mechanisms and intermediate steps that lead to their degeneration. These alternative pathways

Parkinson’s disease is affected by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons which is responsible to produce dopamine. Dopaminergic neurons have their cell bodies in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) in basal ganglia (O’Sullivan and Schmitz, 2007). Basal ganglia are a collection of interconnected gray matter nuclear masses deep within the brain”. These gray matter masses are caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus and the substantia nigra. Basal ganglia receive its input through striatum (O’Sullivan and Schmitz, 2007).

It is known that following primary sensory axonal injury there is a slight increase in regeneration of their central axons, meaning that the increase in growth status after injury causes regeneration. Previous studies have looked into conditioning lesion and found that primary sensory neurons can in fact increase their growth capacity and enhance regeneration after injury, activating ciliary neurotrophic factors (CNTF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the cAMP signaling pathway among others in conditioning lesion. In the current article the researchers investigated whether ATP injection into peripheral nerves were able to mimic the effects of nerve injury in promoting regeneration of sensory neurons both in vivo and in vitro, so that the growth and

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder that affects over 1 million individuals in the US, and unfortunately, about 50,000 new cases are diagnosed yearly (Tarazi et al., 2014). Looking through different emerging treatments, I came across many, including pharmacotherapies, as well as surgical, and non-surgical procedures. While I believe many of these emerging treatments (such as viral vector gene therapy or stem cell therapy) are far from being approved in the US due to their invasive procedures or insufficient research, I however came across an emerging treatment that I presume will soon be approved in the US as opposed to many other ones. Therefore, in this research paper, I will discuss the emerging

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, neurodegenerative disease that affects more than 40,000 individuals in Egypt alone and 2.5 million people worldwide. MS is also categorized as an autoimmune disease in which the immune system instigates an immune response upon encountering the specific myelin antigen and therefore initiating a constant degradation of the myelin sheath. The frequent loss of the myelin leads to irreversible progressive axonal damage and eventually neural death. Unfortunately, there is no cure for MS. This projects aims to ameliorate neurological structure and function in MS patients by the oral administration of Nanocurcumin. Nanocurcumin is synthesized by loading curcumin on poly (n-butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles and is coated with polysorbate-80 to ensure the direct delivery of the nanocurcumin across the blood brain barrier and to the brain. Nanocurcumin is expected to attenuate the neurological symptoms of MS through downregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and endorse the production of neurotrophic factors that aids in neuroprotection and myelin repair.