Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease) and brain injury (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury) are increasing in incidence in adults. Some of the symptoms are temporarily reduced by current medications but they do not cure or delay progression of the disease or injury. The challenges in developing regenerative strategies for nervous system injuries arise from its highly complex nature together with the difficulty in accessing damaged nervous system tissues. Regeneration in the brain comprises of not only cellular replacement but also synaptic and functional repair and plasticity. Development of effective treatments would dramatically improve the independent living and quality of life of patients. Nanotechnology has the potential to provide novel devices and materials to support nervous system regeneration.
The main goal is 1) to promote neurogenesis by nanoparticle delivery of growth factors and 2) to develop neurotechnology strategies for promoting neuroregeneration by modulating the extracellular environment. Growth factors secreted by neurons, microglia, astrocytes and endothelial cells can regulate neuronal proliferation, migration, survival, and differentiation. These include brain-derived growth factor (BDNF), erythropoietin (EPO), nerve growth factor (NGF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor, and platelet-derived growth factor. Also, nanoparticles have the potential to target the immune response by converting activated microglia and macrophages to a resting state. The extracellular matrix (ECM) has an important role in mediating neuroregeneration and is a promising target for nanotechnology to manipulate the physical and chemical cues that promote regeneration. Nanoscaffolds of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and myelin-associated inhibitors can suppress a growth inhibitory environment.
Specific themes for authors to address are:
1. Nanoparticle delivery of growth factors to promote neuroregeneration in animal models of neurodegenerative disease (e.g. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease).
2. Nanoparticle delivery of growth factors to promote neuroregeneration in animal models of brain injury (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury).
3. Nanoscaffolds containing chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans and myelin-associated inhibitors or of some other suitable composition to promote neuroregeneration in animal models of neurodegenerative disease (e.g. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease).
4. Nanoscaffolds containing chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans and myelin-associated inhibitors or of some other suitable composition to promote neuroregeneration in animal models of brain injury (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury).
Types of articles that will be considered are:
a. Those that have quantitative measurements on the extent of brain repair brought about by these nanotechnology strategies which could involve CT analysis or sectioning/staining of brains removed from experimental animals.
b. Those that perform behavioral testing of suitable animal models following treatment with these neurotechnology strategies.
c. Reviews of recently published original articles on the use of nanoparticles or nanoscaffolds for brain repair in animal models.
Keywords:
nanotechnologies, brain repair, neurodegenerative diseases, brain injury, nanoparticles, nanoscaffolds
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease) and brain injury (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury) are increasing in incidence in adults. Some of the symptoms are temporarily reduced by current medications but they do not cure or delay progression of the disease or injury. The challenges in developing regenerative strategies for nervous system injuries arise from its highly complex nature together with the difficulty in accessing damaged nervous system tissues. Regeneration in the brain comprises of not only cellular replacement but also synaptic and functional repair and plasticity. Development of effective treatments would dramatically improve the independent living and quality of life of patients. Nanotechnology has the potential to provide novel devices and materials to support nervous system regeneration.
The main goal is 1) to promote neurogenesis by nanoparticle delivery of growth factors and 2) to develop neurotechnology strategies for promoting neuroregeneration by modulating the extracellular environment. Growth factors secreted by neurons, microglia, astrocytes and endothelial cells can regulate neuronal proliferation, migration, survival, and differentiation. These include brain-derived growth factor (BDNF), erythropoietin (EPO), nerve growth factor (NGF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor, and platelet-derived growth factor. Also, nanoparticles have the potential to target the immune response by converting activated microglia and macrophages to a resting state. The extracellular matrix (ECM) has an important role in mediating neuroregeneration and is a promising target for nanotechnology to manipulate the physical and chemical cues that promote regeneration. Nanoscaffolds of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and myelin-associated inhibitors can suppress a growth inhibitory environment.
Specific themes for authors to address are:
1. Nanoparticle delivery of growth factors to promote neuroregeneration in animal models of neurodegenerative disease (e.g. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease).
2. Nanoparticle delivery of growth factors to promote neuroregeneration in animal models of brain injury (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury).
3. Nanoscaffolds containing chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans and myelin-associated inhibitors or of some other suitable composition to promote neuroregeneration in animal models of neurodegenerative disease (e.g. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease).
4. Nanoscaffolds containing chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans and myelin-associated inhibitors or of some other suitable composition to promote neuroregeneration in animal models of brain injury (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury).
Types of articles that will be considered are:
a. Those that have quantitative measurements on the extent of brain repair brought about by these nanotechnology strategies which could involve CT analysis or sectioning/staining of brains removed from experimental animals.
b. Those that perform behavioral testing of suitable animal models following treatment with these neurotechnology strategies.
c. Reviews of recently published original articles on the use of nanoparticles or nanoscaffolds for brain repair in animal models.
Keywords:
nanotechnologies, brain repair, neurodegenerative diseases, brain injury, nanoparticles, nanoscaffolds
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.