Engineered injectable scaffold spurs brain repair after stroke in mice
Duke University engineers report a microporous annealed particle scaffold (MAPS) that can be injected into the stroke cavity to create a favorable repair environment. By attaching astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles to the scaffold, they concentrate signals that recruit immune cells, promote new blood vessel growth, and support neural remodeling. IL-4 and C1q signaling drew immune cells (including macrophages and neutrophils) to the area; neutrophils appeared to support healing when in the right context. The scaffold was essential—EVs alone did not reproduce the effects—and treated mice showed improved motor function and axonal growth, with outcomes approaching those of healthy controls by eight weeks. The work is preclinical and in mice, with future steps needed to assess safety and efficacy in larger models and human-derived signals.
