Biomaterials for CNS Injury

Given the complexity of the tissue environment after CNS injury, appropriate delivery and deployment of therapeutic agents (e.g. small molecules, nucleic acids, proteins and cells) are as critical as the identification of the therapeutic agents themselves. Biomaterials are non-viable materials devised to interact with biological systems. Taking a plethora of forms ranging from nanoparticles, microspheres, porous scaffolds and hydrogels, biomaterials can be designed to interact with the injured CNS on a molecular, cellular or even tissue level. They have naturally emerged as powerful tools that can navigate therapeutic agents through the spatial and temporal challenges of the ever-evolving milieu in the injured CNS. This chapter highlights the roles that biomaterials play in neuroprotection, repair and regeneration (by protecting molecules and targeting them toward the CNS, sustaining long-term release of drugs and providing structural support for endogenous/transplanted cells) and details the strategies they employ in each of these roles. Overall, the numerous applications of biomaterials in the injured CNS not only illustrate the state of the art but also reflect the trend of biomaterials becoming increasingly engaged in an intimate partnership with therapeutic agents to ultimately materialize effective treatment for CNS injury.