Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases/injuries are challenging due to the complexity of neural tissue and its low intrinsic regeneration ability. Biomaterials are used as molecules and cell carriers to maintain them in specific regions, increase cells’ engraftment and promote their interaction with host cells [1]. Natural hydrogels are advantageous since they promote cell adhesion/proliferation due to biological and chemical cues that support cells’ survival, can be functionalized for specific cell responses, provide a 3D environment that mimics native tissues, are enzymatically/hydrolytically degraded upon new tissue formation and can be injected for minimally invasive administration [2]. Neurotrophic or angiogenic factors administration ameliorates/repairs the damaged tissues and promotes neural regeneration/preservation. The incorporation of these factors in Nanoparticles (NPs), increases their stability and protects them from enzymatic degradation [3]. Having this in mind, the proposed strategy focus on the production of different natural-based hydrogels and assessment of their properties. Afterwards, the produced hydrogels will be combined with Mesenchymal Stem Cells/Glial-restricted Progenitor Cells and/or carboxymethylchitosan/polyamidoamine-NPs, loaded with relevant growth factors, to obtain injectable multifunctional hydrogels for CNS applications. 

CHEM2NATURE second school