A review: Carrier-based hydrogels containing bioactive molecules and stem cells for ischemic stroke therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Neuroscience
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Ischemic stroke (IS) is a major cause of death and disability globally, with current treatments like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and thrombectomy having limited therapeutic windows.
• Preclinical therapies, including drug and cellular approaches, face challenges in clinical translation, such as poor stem cell survival and restricted drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of carrier-based hydrogels for ischemic stroke therapy.
• To focus on hydrogel scaffolds incorporating bioactive molecules and stem cells for neural repair.
• To summarize the composition, properties, and functions of these hydrogel materials.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on carrier-based hydrogels in ischemic stroke treatment.
• Analysis of hydrogel composition, physicochemical properties, and physiological functions.
• Discussion of clinical translation prospects and challenges.

Main Results:

• Carrier-based hydrogels offer an injectable solution for delivering drugs and cells to the brain, potentially enhancing therapeutic efficacy in ischemic stroke.
• Hydrogel scaffolds can be designed to support stem cell survival and controlled release of bioactive molecules.
• The properties and functions of hydrogel materials are crucial for successful neural tissue regeneration.

Conclusions:

• Carrier-based hydrogels represent a promising therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke, addressing limitations of current treatments.
• Further research and development are needed to overcome challenges in the clinical translation of hydrogel-based therapies for IS.
• Hydrogels hold potential for advancing the repair and regeneration of neural tissue following ischemic events.