A Review of Cell Therapies and Neural Interfaces in the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries: Recent Progress and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) causes neuron loss and axonal degeneration at the injury site, resulting in a loss of motor and sensory functions caudal to the point of injury. As of now, there is no successful treatment for severe spinal cord injuries to restore pre-injury functionality. Recently, researchers have been experimenting with cell therapies to regenerate axons damaged by SCI. Other therapies such as neural interfaces have been explored as methods to stimulate and strengthen axons. In conjunction, these treatment options demonstrate promise in restoring motor and sensory functions compromised by SCI. This review provides an overview of various cell therapies as well as two modalities of neural interfaces and how they may work together to treat SCI.