USE OF PLASMA-SYNTHESISED PYROL-DERIVED POLYMERS FOR THE NEUROPROTECTION AND RECONNECTION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

摘要

The purpose of the present invention is to demonstrate that semiconducting and non-biodegradable implants made with polypyrol and polyethylenglycol copolymers and iodine-doped and plasma-synthesised pyrol polymers, have a neuroprotector effect and induce the reconnection of the spinal cord after an injury. This effect was proved in a model involving a complete section of the spinal cord in rats. The results of the functional evaluation demonstrated 5 times greater recovery in animals implanted with the polypyrol-polyethylenglycol copolymer compared with the control group which only underwent a complete section of the spinal cord; in addition, the functional recovery of the group with iodine-doped polypyrol was ten times greater compared to the control group. In the histological study various inflammatory and immune cells were identified at the injury site in the three experimental groups with and without implants and the integration of the polymers in the nervous tissue of the spinal cord was also observed. Finally, no respiratory, renal or skin infections, adverse effects or rejection of the biomaterials were found in any of the animals.