New Injection Can Protect Neurons Following a Brain Injury
The New Jersey Institute of Technology recently published a research paper discussing an injection they are developing. This injection might preserve the health of neurons following a traumatic brain injury. The neurons are some of the most critical cells in the body. They carry signals between the brain and the arms, legs, chest, and torso. These neurons are also responsible for relaying pain, pressure, and temperature information from distant tissues to the brain. Unfortunately, a blow to the head can also seriously damage neurons. Researchers from the New Jersey Institute of Technology believe they might have found a way to protect neurons following an injury.
A Powerful Shock can Damage the Neurons.
A traumatic brain injury occurs when a blow to the head or neck area causes a change in the way the central nervous system functions. Unfortunately, the trauma does not stop with the initial impact. In reality, the impact sets off a chain reaction through the brain, seriously damaging both neurons and the various tissue networks that provide support.
When the neuronal support networks are damaged, the neurons become starved for oxygen and nutrients. Without oxygen and nutrients, the neurons are unable to function appropriately. This leads to symptoms that present as changes in someone’s motor or sensory function. Furthermore, the damage to the various neurons is often permanent.
Current Treatment Options for Neuron Damage
When exposed to trauma, neurons increase the amount of glutamate (a key neurotransmitter) they produce. Unfortunately, this excess glutamate also causes the neurons to become overexcited. As a result, the cells start to break down. This leads to inflammation, which causes both short and long-term damage to neurons and other tissues throughout the central nervous system.
Right now, there are few effective treatment options for damaged neurons. There are treatments that doctors can employ to help patients deal with symptoms; however, they are ineffective at stopping the crucial damage that impacts the body’s neurons. Furthermore, the brain’s blood-brain barrier makes it hard to deliver effective medical therapies. This barrier stops most medications from reaching the brain and its neurons. Now, researchers believe they might have found an answer.
An Injection of a Protective Protein
Recently, the research team from the New Jersey Institute of Technology released a paper describing how an injection of a protein called ependymin can protect the neurons following a blow to the head. The research team isolated these proteins and attached them to a unique delivery platform. The proteins were inserted into a hydrogel developed from the biomaterials lab.
The hydrogel containing the protein is then injected directly into the injury location. Once arriving at the injury site, the proteins in the hydrogel reassemble into a scaffold. This scaffold is similar to the support network that neurons need to survive. The biocompatibility of these proteins promotes the infiltration of stem cells that help the neurons recover following an injury. So far, the research has proven to be effective in animal models. The next step is to move it into human trials. The results provide hope for the millions of people who have suffered a brain injury.
Brain Injury Lawyers in Manteca
I’m Ed Smith, a Manteca brain injury lawyer. This injection holds promise for those who have suffered a brain injury. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with a TBI in a major accident due to the negligence of another person or entity, call me at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
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