Preliminary demonstration and valorization of therapeutic rewiring of severed spinal cord

SPINETRACER aims to restore the lost functions of patients suffering from spinal cord injury (SCI) by providing a conductive scaffolding implant for the growth of severed nerve fibres. Not thicker than an inch, the spinal cord has no way to heal when severed. Our creative idea is to provide an artificial support that can mimic and stimulate neuronal electrical connections. This scaffold can bridge the gap created by SCI and enable the return of motor and sensitive function. We have previously demonstrated that carbon nanotube (CNT) implants in rats lead to the recovery of motor activity in very short times after an otherwise paralyzing lesion to the spinal cord. For the first time it was possible to observe the regrowth of nerve fibres leading to restoration of motor function (published on PNAS 2020, 117, 25212). In this innovative approach, it was also possible to show that the scaffolds, when inserted in the lesion, became filled with newly sprouted nerve fibres. The long-term objective of SPINETRACER is to take to clinical practice our novel solution for the restoration of motor functions in patients suffering from SCI. To this end, we will combine our proprietary technology, based on CNT-containing hydrogels, and our recently developed neuroanatomical magnetic resonance imaging tracer based on carbon nanodots, for precise in vivo imaging of the progression of the spinal cord regeneration, to complete our preclinical studies. We expect to take further steps into the demonstration of technical and economic viability of this initiative by improving implant design and production processes, restoring motor function in small mammals and designing an appealing business model to exploit the asset. By the end of this Proof of Concept we expect to have acquired all the necessary data to move into the next stage of the road towards clinical implementation of the solution.