Spinal cord injury is a life-altering condition that can lead to paralysis, loss of sensation and chronic pain. In Ireland, more than 2,300 individuals and families are living with spinal cord injury, but no treatment currently exists to effectively repair the damage.
A research team at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is addressing this challenge by developing a 3D-printed implant that delivers electrical stimulation to injured areas of the spinal cord offering a potential new route to repair nerve damage.
Details of the 3D printed implant and how it performs in lab experiments have been published in the journal Advanced Science.
A new generation of materials
Therapeutic electrical stimulation at the injury site in the spinal cord has previously shown potential in encouraging nerve cells (neurons) to regrow.
Researchers at RCSI are building on this approach through the creation of electrically conductive biomaterials that can channel electrical stimulation across the injury, supporting the body’s ability to repair the damaged tissue.
This latest study was led by RCSI’s Tissue Engineering Research Group (TERG) in collaboration with the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER) Centre, an environment which sees biomedical engineers, biologists and material scientists work together.
The team used ultra-thin nanomaterials normally used for applications like battery design and integrated them into a soft gel-like structure using 3D printing techniques.
The resulting implant mimics the structure of the human spinal cord and features a fine mesh of tiny fibres capable of conducting electricity to our cells. When tested in the lab, the implant was shown to effectively deliver electrical signals to neurons and stem cells, enhancing their ability to grow. Modifying the fibre layout within the implant further improved its effectiveness.
This tunable approach may enable a new generation of medical devices for traumatic spinal cord injuries and has wider potential applications in cardiac, orthopaedic and neurological treatments where electrical stimulation can drive healing.
Collaboration and lived experience
The project brought together RCSI and AMBER researchers with the Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust (IRFU-CT). An advisory panel comprising seriously injured rugby players, clinicians, neuroscientists and researchers helped to shape the research, deepening understanding of the lived experience of spinal cord injury and highlighting treatment priorities.
Regular engagement with the panel ensured a consistent exchange of insights and findings, helping to align the scientific work with patient needs and expectations.
The study was supported by the Irish Rugby Football Union Charitable Trust, AMBER the Research Ireland Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research and an Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship.
RCSI is committed to achieving a better and more sustainable future through the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
