“Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that leads to severe motor and sensory dysfunction, largely due to inflammation, neuronal damage, and disrupted neural circuits.

In this study, we developed an injectable hydrogel (C/F/Gel) co-loaded with fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and cannabidiol micelles (CBDm) to enhance SCI repair. The hydrogel, composed of PF127 and α-cyclodextrin (α-CD), provides sustained drug release and improves drug stability at the injury site.

Our findings demonstrate that C/F/Gel effectively modulates the inflammatory microenvironment by promoting microglial polarization toward the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype via cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) activation.

Additionally, it regulates the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurons, and significantly improves motor function in SCI mice. Behavioral assessments, histological analysis, and molecular studies confirmed the superior therapeutic efficacy of C/F/Gel compared to single-agent treatments.

These results highlight C/F/Gel as a promising biomaterial-based strategy for SCI repair, offering a synergistic approach that integrates inflammation modulation, neuroprotection, and functional recovery.”

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40782447/

“Our study shows that the developed C/F/Gel is a promising therapeutic strategy for SCI repair, offering a multi-faceted approach through controlled drug release, inflammation modulation, neural regeneration, and motor function recovery. The synergy between FGF21 and CBDm, particularly via CB2R activation, highlights a novel mechanistic pathway for SCI treatment.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0142961225005289?via%3Dihub