Intervertebral Disc Nucleus Repair: Hype or Hope?

Chronic back pain is a common disability, which is often accredited to intervertebral disc degeneration. Gold standard interventions such as spinal fusion, which are mainly designed to mechanically seal the defect, frequently fail to restore the native biomechanics. Moreover, artificial implants have limited success as a repair strategy, as they do not alter the underlying disease and fail to promote tissue integration and subsequent native biomechanics.

Exogenous Delivery of Link N mRNA into Chondrocytes and MSCs-The Potential Role in Increasing Anabolic Response.

Musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc degeneration are causes of morbidity, which concomitantly burdens the health and social care systems worldwide, with massive costs. Link N peptide has recently been described as a novel anabolic stimulator for intervertebral disc repair. In this study, we analyzed the influence on anabolic response, by delivering synthetic Link N encoding mRNA into primary human chondrocytes and mesenchymal stromal cells (SCP1 cells), Furthermore, both cell types were seeded on knitted titanium scaffolds, and the influence of Link N peptide mRNA for possible tissue engineering applications was investigated.

How does a novel knitted titanium nucleus prosthesis change the kinematics of a cervical spine segment? A biomechanical cadaveric study.

Background: Total disc replacement is a possible treatment alternative for patients with degenerative disc disease, especially in the cervical spine. The aim is to restore the physiological flexibility and biomechanical behavior. A new approach based on these requirements is the novel nucleus prosthesis made of knitted titanium wires.

Characterisation of porous knitted titanium for replacement of intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus.

Effective restoration of human intervertebral disc degeneration is challenged by numerous limitations of the currently available spinal fusion and arthroplasty treatment strategies. Consequently, use of artificial biomaterial implant is gaining attention as a potential therapeutic strategy. Our study is aimed at investigating and characterizing a novel knitted titanium (Ti6Al4V) implant for the replacement of nucleus pulposus to treat early stages of chronic intervertebral disc degeneration.

Imaging Cell Viability on Non-transparent Scaffolds - Using the Example of a Novel Knitted Titanium Implant.

Intervertebral disc degeneration and disc herniation is one of the major causes of lower back pain. Depletion of extracellular matrix, culminating in nucleus pulposus (NP) extrusion leads to intervertebral disc destruction. Currently available surgical treatments reduce the pain but do not restore the mechanical functionality of the spine.

Biomechanical behavior of a new nucleus prosthesis made of knitted titanium filaments.

Background: One of the greatest challenges in the development of a nucleus prosthesis is to minimize the risk of implant expulsion. At the same time, the physiological flexibility, compressive behavior, and height of the disc should be restored. In this biomechanical in vitro study we investigated the ability of a new nucleus prosthesis made of knitted titanium filaments to meet these challenges.

Experimental strategies to promote spinal cord regeneration--an integrative perspective.

Detailed pathophysiological findings of secondary damage phenomena after spinal cord injury (SCI) as well as the identification of inhibitory and neurotrophic proteins have yielded a plethora of experimental therapeutic approaches. Main targets are (i) to minimize secondary damage progression (neuroprotection), (ii) to foster axon conduction (neurorestoration) and (iii) to supply a permissive environment to promote axonal sprouting (neuroregenerative therapies). Pre-clinical studies have raised hope in functional recovery through the antagonism of growth inhibitors, application of growth factors, cell transplantation, and vaccination strategies.