Chapter 9 - Nanoparticles influence pathophysiology of spinal cord injury and repair

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious clinical problem for which no suitable therapeutic strategies have been worked out so far. Recent studies suggest that the SCI and its pathophysiological responses could be altered by systemic exposure to nanoparticles. Thus, SCI when made in animals intoxicated with engineered nanoparticles from metals or silica dust worsened the outcome. On the other hand, drugs tagged with titanium (TiO(2)) nanoparticles or encapsulated in liposomes could enhance their neuroprotective efficacy following SCI. Thus, to expand our knowledge on nanoparticle-induced alterations in the spinal cord pathophysiology further research is needed. These investigations will help to develop new strategies to achieve neuroprotection in SCI, for example, using nanodrug delivery. New results from our laboratory showed that nanoparticle-induced exacerbation of cord pathology following trauma can be reduced when the suitable drugs tagged with TiO(2) nanowires were administered into the spinal cord as compared to those drugs given alone. This indicates that nanoparticles depending on the exposure and its usage could induce both neurotoxicity and neuroprotection. This review discusses the potential adverse or therapeutic utilities of nanoparticles in SCI largely based on our own investigations. In addition, possible mechanisms of nanoparticle-induced exacerbation of cord pathology or enhanced neuroprotection following nanodrug delivery is described in light of recently available data in this rapidly emerging field of nanoneurosciences.