已发表论文

基于水凝胶的生物材料在脊柱修复中的应用:评估椎间盘退变、脊髓损伤及硬脊膜再生的机制

 

Authors Wang Y , Guo Y, Zhang D

Received 6 August 2025

Accepted for publication 23 November 2025

Published 10 December 2025 Volume 2025:18 Pages 7961—7978

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S558679

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2

Editor who approved publication: Dr Pavani Rangachari

Yibo Wang,1 Ya Guo,1 Dianyu Zhang2 

1Orthopedic Third Ward, Heze Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Heze, 274300, People’s Republic of China; 2Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Heze Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Heze, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Dianyu Zhang, Email dianyu0219@163.com

Abstract: Spinal disorders, such as intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and spinal cord injury (SCI), pose substantial challenges in modern healthcare, exacerbated by an aging population and the limited effectiveness of current treatments. IVDD, characterized by extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, dehydration of the nucleus pulposus, and inflammation, is a leading cause of chronic low back pain, affecting approximately 266 million people worldwide each year. Likewise, SCI, frequently resulting from traumatic incidents, can induce irreversible neurological impairment due to both primary mechanical injury and secondary inflammatory responses, encompassing glial scar formation and axonal disruption. Despite advancements in pain management, surgery, and cell therapies, these conditions remain difficult to treat effectively. This review examines recent developments in hydrogel materials for spinal surgery, with a focus on their applications in the treatment of IVDD and SCI. Hydrogels, due to their biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, and ability to mimic the native ECM, have shown enormous promise in spinal repair. Their high water content and porous structure enable the efficient delivery of drugs and cells, and their injectability makes them useful for minimally invasive procedures. Hydrogels offer potential in regenerating the nucleus pulposus, modulating inflammation, supporting axonal regrowth, and preventing fibrosis. Furthermore, their injectable and self-healing properties enable less invasive surgical interventions. While showing clear advantages, they continue to struggle with mechanical strength, controlled therapeutic delivery, and precise structural outcomes in 3D printing. Ongoing research is needed to optimize these properties for clinical applications. This review provides an overview of the biological mechanisms, material design, and fabrication techniques of hydrogels, aiming to support the future development of hydrogel-based therapies in spinal disorder treatment.

Keywords: hydrogel, intervertebral disc degeneration, spinal cord injury, spinal repair, spinal regeneration