ABSTRACT
I. Scaffolds for the PNS ..................................................................................................... 482
A. The Structure of the PNS ....................................................................................... 482
B. Previous Treatments for Repair of the PNS .......................................................... 482
C. Scaffolds for Repair in the PNS ............................................................................. 483
II. Scaffolds for the CNS: The Spinal Cord ....................................................................... 484
A. Basic Anatomy of the Spinal Cord (an Engineering View) .................................. 484
B. Results of Spinal Cord Injury ................................................................................ 485
III. Approaches to Treatment, Repair, and Regeneration .................................................... 486
A. Drug Interventions .................................................................................................. 486
1. Methylprednisolone ......................................................................................... 486
2. Growth Factors ................................................................................................ 486
3. Role of Other Drugs and Antibodies .............................................................. 486
B. Cell Therapies for the Spinal Cord ........................................................................ 487
1. Schwann Cells ................................................................................................. 487
2. Olfactory Ensheathing Cells ............................................................................ 487
3. Stem Cells ........................................................................................................ 488
a. Embryonic Stem Cells ............................................................................... 488
b. Neural Stem Cells ...................................................................................... 489
C. Role of Surface Chemistry: The Extra Cellular Matrix ........................................ 489
D. Scaffolds in the Spinal Cord .................................................................................. 490
1. Axonal Guidance: Utilizing the Regenerative Potential of the PNS
to Induce Regeneration in the CNS ................................................................ 490
E. A New Approach to Spinal Cord Repair: Tissue Engineering ............................. 491
IV. Scaffolds for the CNS: The Brain .................................................................................. 492
V. The Future for Scaffolds in the Nervous System .......................................................... 492
References ................................................................................................................................... 492
This chapter will focus primarily on scaffolds for regeneration in the central nervous system
(CNS) since there is little endogenous regeneration in the CNS following injury in higher order
mammals, whereas, there is significant regeneration in the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
following injury. The CNS consists of the brain, spinal cord, and retina. The PNS consists of the
sensory neurons which carry impulses from the receptors to the CNS and the motor neurons which
carry impulses to the muscles and glands. There is a plethora of texts on the anatomy of the nervous
system.
