The fabrication and characterization of linearly oriented nerve guidance scaffolds for spinal cord injury

Strategies to promote axonal extension through a site of injury, including the provision of nervous system growth factors and supportive substrates, produce growth of axons, that is highly random and does not extend past the lesion site and into the host tissue (Brain Res. Bull 57(6) (2002) 833). Physically guiding the linear growth of axons across a site of injury, in addition to providing neurotrophic and/or cellular support, would help to...