Awarded projects
Hydro-delivery for the back
- Dr Christine Le Maitre (Biomedical Research Centre; lead applicant)
- Dr Chris Sammon (Materials and Engineering Research Institute; second applicant)
This project aims to develop a new therapy for low back pain which targets the failing shock absorbers in the spine. The project is developing a novel, injectable biomaterial delivery systems which will inhibit the cause failure of the shock absorbers and deliver mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) which can stimulate regeneration. To date the team has developed hydrogel systems capable of supporting MSC growth and incorporation of proteins which could be delivered to inhibit the cellular changes during disease.
Lower back pain affects a large percent of the population at some point in their lives and nearly five million working days were lost as a result of back pain in 2003–04. This study aims to develop a new delivery system which can inhibit disc degeneration and stimulate regeneration for a more permanent solution to this problem than already exists.
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/hydrogel-injections-could-ease-lower-back-pain/1006845.article
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