Innovative pre-clinical research developing a cell-based therapy for spinal cord injury

Worldwide, approximately 2.5 million people live with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and more than 130,000 new injuries are reported each year. SCI has a significant impact on quality of life and is a significant economic burden. Many strategies have been examined in an attempt to promote recovery or restore functional ability to those living with a SCI including pharmacological approaches (neuroprotective molecules), electronic strategies (electrical stimulation) and cellular approaches. Cell-based therapies are one of the most promising strategies for repairing SCI via cellular regeneration. In particular, the regenerative potential of the olfactory ensheathing glial cells (OECs) has widely been demonstrated. However, even though multiple studies using OECs in humans have shown functional benefits with no safety liabilities, preliminary clinical trial outcomes remain inconsistent. Here at Griffith University, our team, which is composed of biologists, physicians, veterinary surgeons, and engineers from around the world, is currently conducting pre-clinical research to develop a highly robust cellbased therapy for SCI using OECs. We have developed new techniques to purify OECs from nasal biopsies and use pharmacological stimulation of the isolated cells to improve function. In order to improve cell integration into the injury site, the purified cells are encapsulated in a three-dimensional construct using naked liquid marbles to protect the cells from the hostile injury site. The OECs within the 3D constructs rapidly interact with each other and produce extracellular matrix to form robust spheroids. In this format, the 3D constructs are easily handled and can be transplanted into the injury site using accurate delivery methods to promote cellular integration. Our project aims to overcome previous challenges that OEC transplantation methods have faced in pre-clinical model studies, with the ultimate goal of translation to human clinical trials in the near future.