Polymer Gel Systems for Nerve Repair and Regeneration

Material design is crucial in overcoming numerous barriers for peripheral nerve, spinal cord and brain injuries. Injectable polymers play an important role in providing permissive microenvironments by incorporating ECM proteins, neurotrophic factors, and neural stem cells to achieve enhanced regenerated functions, though big challenges still remain. Many biodegradable polymeric networks have been developed by using chemical crosslinking or/and physical gelation to facilitate axonal ingrowth and investigate their roles in interacting with biological cues. In this review, we will focus on recent progress in polymeric gel systems developed for nerve tissue engineering applications and how their physical properties can be tailored to regulate nerve cell functions and satisfy the clinical needs, together with other chemical and biological factors for nerve repair.