The implantation of non-resorbable biocompatible polymer hydrogels into defects in the central nervous system can reduce glial scar formation, bridge the lesion and lead to tissue regeneration within the hydrogel. We implanted hydrogels based on crosslinked poly hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (pHEMA) and poly N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide (pHPMA) into the rat cortex and evaluated the cellular invasion into the hydrogels by means of immunohistochemical methods and tetramethylammonium diffusion measurements. Astrocytes and NF160-positive axons grew similarly into both types of hydrogels. We found no cell types other than astrocytes in the pHEMA hydrogels. In the pHPMA hydrogels, we found a massive ingrowth of connective tissue elements. These changes were accompanied by corresponding changes in the extracellular space volume fraction and tortuosity of the hydrogels.

Institute of Experimental Medicine Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Vídenská 1083 142 20 Prague Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org

Macroporous hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Part 6: 3D hydrogels with positive and negative surface charges and polyelectrolyte complexes in spinal cord injury repair

Macroporous hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Part 5: hydrolytically degradable materials

Macroporous hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Part 4: growth of rat bone marrow stromal cells in three-dimensional hydrogels with positive and negative surface charges and in polyelectrolyte complexes

Bone marrow stem cells and polymer hydrogels--two strategies for spinal cord injury repair

Macroporous hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Part II. Copolymers with positive and negative charges, polyelectrolyte complexes