연세대학교 의과대학 신경외과학교실
In this article, research trend of biomaterials for spinal disease was summarized with an emphasis on molecular therapy for spinal cord injury. Cytokines, cell therapy and biomaterials are future perspectives for treatment of spinal cord injury. But there is no promising result in clinical trial setting so far. Adult stem cells, embryonal stem cells and recently iPS(induced pluripotent stem) cells are widely investigated for cell therapy of spinal cord injury. But ideal cell is not yet determined. Research of biomaterials for cord injury is in the beginning. There is no conclusive data of stem cell therapy in cord injury in terms of effectiveness of improving neurologic deficits. But results of clinical trial showed the feasibility and safety of cell therapy. The combined treatments with cytokines, cells, and biomaterials will be a new modality of biological treatment in spinal cord injury.
