The Application of Biomaterials in Spinal Cord Injury.

The spinal cord and the brain form the central nervous system (CNS), which is the most important part of the body. However, spinal cord injury (SCI) caused by external forces is one of the most difficult types of neurological injury to treat, resulting in reduced or even absent motor, sensory and autonomic functions. It leads to the reduction or even disappearance of motor, sensory and self-organizing nerve functions. Currently, its incidence is increasing each year worldwide. Therefore, the development of treatments for SCI is urgently needed in the clinic. To date, surgery, drug therapy, stem cell transplantation, regenerative medicine, and rehabilitation therapy have been developed for the treatment of SCI. Among them, regenerative biomaterials that use tissue engineering and bioscaffolds to transport cells or drugs to the injured site are considered the most promising option. In this review, we briefly introduce SCI and its molecular mechanism and summarize the application of biomaterials in the repair and regeneration of tissue in various models of SCI. However, there is still limited evidence about the treatment of SCI with biomaterials in the clinic. Finally, this review will provide inspiration and direction for the future study and application of biomaterials in the treatment of SCI.

[Purification process of proanthrocyanidin from rapeseed with macroporous resins].

The characteristics of absoption and desorption of four classes (five kinds) of macroporous resins in the solution of rapeseed proanthrocyanidin were compared. The results indicated that the weak polar macroporous resins AB-8 and HPD450 were better than the other three macroporous resins in some characteristics of absorption and desorption. In this experiment, the purity of rapeseed proanthrocyanidin prepared only by AB-8 macroporous resin column was higher than only by HPD450 column. However,the yield was lower. Using two steps of purification (first HPD450 column and second AB-8 column) obtained better results. The yield and purity were 62. 5% and 84% ,respectively. After using mixed resin column (50% HPD450 and 50% AB-8), the yield and purity were 75.2% and 80.3%, respectively. The last results might be used in industry.

[One-stage reconstruction of postburn whole auricle defect with MEDPOR ear scaffold covered with superficial temporoparietal fascia flap].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and the key points in the operative procedure of the one-stage reconstruction of postburn whole auricle defect with medpor car scaffold covered with superficial temporoparietal fascia (TPF) flap. METHODS: Medpor car scaffold was embedded under the superficial temporal (TFP) fascia. Razor-thin skin was grafted onto the surface of the fascia flap. RESULTS: Fifteen patients with postburn whole auricle defect were treated by one-stage reconstruction with Medpor ear scaffold during the last four years. It was successful in all the patients with satisfactory appearance of the reconstructed ears. CONCLUSION: Medpor possessed friendly biological compatibility. The reconstruction gave satisfactory results, and its advantages consisted of short operational time, easy manipulation, less injury to patients and good auricular contour.

[Autogenous costal cartilage with Medpor: a compound auricular framework applied to one-stage total ear reconstruction].

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a compound external ear framework characterized by few complications, simplicity and very low rate of implant exposure or absorption. METHODS: A compound auricular framework, being composed of the ninth autogenous costal cartilage as ear rim and Medpor ear base, was used in one-stage total ear reconstruction. All patients were followed up postoperatively. RESULTS: Nine cases have been performed clinically using this compound framework and all of them achieved satisfactory efficacies. The reforged ears looked natural and achieved superior cosmesis, and none of them experienced ear rim fracture or implant exposure or distortion. CONCLUSION: This compound auricular framework has advantages of practicability, simplicity and minimal complications. It may be an ideal framework for the reconstruction of total external ear at present.