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Abstract
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Advanced therapeutic strategies include the incorporation of biomaterials, which has been identified as an
effective method in treating unsolved diseases, such as spinal cord injury. During the acute phase, cascade
responses involving cystic cavitation, fibrous glial scar formation, and myelin-associated dissuasive
accumulation occur in the microenvironment of the spinal cord lesion. Graphene oxide (GO)-based
materials, due to their extraordinary chemical, electrical and mechanical properties and easy to modify
structure, are considered as rising stars in biomaterial and tissue engineering. In order to enhance the
biodegradability and biocompatibility of GO, cell proliferation may be appropriately designed and
situated at the lesion site. In this study, chitosan (CS) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were grafted onto
GO sheets. CS is a natural non-toxic polymer with good solubility and high biocompatible potential that
has been used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent. Furthermore, PEG, a synthetic
neuroprotective polymer, was used to develop the pharmacokinetic activity and reduce the toxicity of
GO. Herein we report a novel nanocomposite consisting of PEG and CS with a potential advantage in
spinal tissue regeneration. The preliminary in vitro study on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has
demonstrated that the prepared nanocomposites are not only non-toxic but also increase (by nearly
10%) cell growth. Finally, the use of mixed nanocomposites in the spinal cord injury (SCI) model resulted
in good repair and inflammation decline after two weeks, such that walking and functional recovery
scores of the hind limbs of mice were improved by an average of 6 points in the treatment group.
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