Injectable bioactive hydrogel for the regeneration of intervertebral disc

椎间盘允许椎骨的轻微运动，在脊柱的减震中起重要作用，但随着时间的推移可能会受损。椎间盘退变是腰痛的主要原因之一，影响了全球很大一部分人口，造成了巨大的社会经济负担。背痛非常普遍，大约每50个加拿大人中就有1人因背痛而残疾。当药物或物理治疗不够时，手术是唯一的选择，手术包括取出椎间盘和/或用植入物代替。显然需要微创修复椎间盘，以避免手术治疗和长期并发症，这些并发症会在简单的椎间盘取出后影响患者。该项目旨在为受损的椎间盘提供一种微创治疗方法，该方法基于一种可以通过针头注入椎间盘并快速固化的材料。该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正常成分。这种可注射的产品也应该有修复软骨的潜力，这影响到更多的患者。两家加拿大公司对这种产品非常感兴趣。因此，除了改善加拿大人的健康状况外，该项目还将有助于加强加拿大最近在这一战略领域的工业

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