Market Overview:
Over 1.7 million Americans in the US sustain traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year[1] and an estimated 3.2 million Americans have long term disabling effects from TBI[2]. This novel and effective technology features an injectable biomaterial gel with the ability to promote functional tissue regeneration at the site of a traumatic brain injury and stroke. The technology provides a procedure whereby the hydrogel is injected into a lesion in the brain that will direct the response of neural stem cells in the brain to regenerate normal brain tissue at the lesion site. This technology provides a potential alternative, beneficial approach to the current methods used to treat traumatic brain injuries which focus on managing the primary injury using hypothermia or neuro-protection with pharmacological agents. Research using this material has demonstrated revascularization of the lesion sites and sustained recovery in rats with CNS injuries.
Applications:
· Traumatic Brain Injury Repair
· Repair of brain lesions due to stroke
· Repair of spinal cord lesions
Benefits:
· Injectable, acellular therapy that recruits native cells and promotes functional tissue regeneration
· Alternative approach to current methods used to treat traumatic brain injuries that employ hypothermia or neuroprotection with pharmacological agents
Inventors: Ning Zhang, Xuejun Wen
Protection Status: Patent application filed
Licensing Status: Available for licensing
Additional Terms: Hydrogel, Extracelluar Matrix Molecules, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Spinal Cord Injury
CURF Ref No: 08-049
[1] (2010) www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/
[2] (2010) www.brainline.org
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