Tel Aviv University (TAU) in central Israel says Israeli scientists have contrived human spinal cord implants for treating paralysis.
In a new study published in the journal Advanced Science, TAU scientists created functional spinal cord tissues from belly fat tissues taken from patients.
The team used genetic engineering to reprogramme the tissue cells, reverting them to a state that resembles embryonic stem cells in a process that mimics the embryonic development of the spinal cord.
In this way, the tissue cells taken from the patients were turned into 3D implants of neuronal networks containing motor neurons.
The scientists said on Monday that they also produced from the tissue a personalised hydrogel that would evoke no immune response or rejection after implantation.
The hydrogel-wrapped stem cells were then implanted in lab animals that featured chronic paralysis, successfully restoring walking abilities in 80 per cent of tests.
“We plan to reach clinical trials in humans, and ultimately get patients back on their feet,’’ the researchers concluded.
