Injectable bioactive hydrogel for the regeneration of intervertebral disc

椎间盘允许椎骨轻微运动，在脊柱减震中发挥重要作用，但随着时间的推移会受损。椎间盘退变是导致下腰痛的主要原因之一，它影响了全球大部分人口，造成了巨大的社会经济负担。这是如此普遍，大约有1在50加拿大人成为 ** 残疾的背部疼痛。当药物或物理治疗不充分时，手术是唯一的选择，其中 ** 包括椎间盘切除和/或植入物置换。明确需要 ** 椎间盘的微创修复，以避免手术治疗和简单取出椎间盘后影响患者的长期并发症。该项目旨在为受损的椎间盘 ** 提供一种微创治疗，其基础是使用一种材料，这种材料可以通过针头注入椎间盘并 ** 迅速固化。这种材料与细胞和生物活性产品相结合，可以积极 ** 促进组织的修复，以更好地恢复其机械性能和 ** 其正常组成。这种注射产品也应该有修复 ** 软骨的潜力，这会影响更多的患者。两家加拿大公司对这种产品很感兴趣。因此，除了改善加拿大人的健康外，该项目还将有助于加强加拿大在这一战略领域最近的工业。

Intervertebral discs allow slight movement of the vertebrae and play an important role in**shock absorption in the spine but can be damaged with time. Disc degeneration is one of the**leading causes of low back pain, which affects a large proportion of the global population at a**huge socioeconomic burden. It is so common that approximately 1 in 50 Canadians become**disabled by back pain.**When drugs or physical therapy are not sufficient, surgery is the only offered option which**consists in the removal of the disc and/or its replacement by an implant. There is a clear need**for minimally invasive repair of the intervertebral disc to avoid surgical treatment and long**term complications which affect patients after simple removal of the disc.**The project aims to provide a minimally invasive treatment for damaged intervertebral discs**based on the use of a material which can be injected into the disk through a needle and**rapidly solidify. This material is combined with cells and bioactive products that can actively**promote the reparation of the tissue, in order to better restore its mechanical properties and**its normal composition. This injectable product should also have potential for the repair of**cartilage, which affects an even higher number of patients.**Two Canadians companies are strongly interested in this product. Therefore, in addition to the**improvement of the health of Canadians, this project will help reinforce the quite recent**Canadian industry in this strategic field