Karen Dubbin |
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email: kdubbs AT stanford
DOT edu
Dept: Materials Science
& Engineering
B.S. Materials Science
& Engineering;
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
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Following injury to the central nervous system, the primary
trauma is surrounded by a microenvironment that inhibits axonal
regeneration. This contrasts with injury to the peripheral nervous
system, where few inhibitory molecules are present and regeneration is
possible. One major field of study for developing spinal cord injury
therapies is to mimic the microenvironment present in the peripheral
nervous system in the central nervous system. This can be achieved in a
number of different ways including through delivery of pro-regenerative
growth factors or delivery of cell types known to aid in regeneration
in the peripheral nervous system. We are investigating the use of
Mixing Induced Two-Component Hydrogels (MITCH) as a delivery mechanism
for spinal cord injury. This hydrogel may serve as an ideal delivery
system both because of its injectability as well as its cell protective
qualities and ability to serve as a growth matrix.
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