Neural tissue engineering of the CNS using hydrogels ‐ A review

After the article published online, the authors all separately realized that many elements of this abstract closely resembled an existing article's abstract (Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2003; 5: 293-347). The authors wish to have the article's abstract changed from: Regeneration of nerves in the central nervous system (CNS) is a complex biological phenomenon. Many challenges exist because neurochemical and neuroanatomical architecture are currently not understood. In the peripheral nervous system, some regeneration can occur naturally to repair small injuries. However damage to the CNS is much more complex as inhibitory factors within the body resist regeneration. There is currently no treatment available to repair injury to the central nervous system; hence the neural tissue engineering community is focusing on developing scaffolds that generate permissible environments for regeneration. Neural tissue engineering encompassing recent advances in neurobiology, cell culture, gene transfer and scaffolds is generating a more positive outlook for regeneration in the CNS. This review focuses on hydrogel scaffolds, both natural and synthetic, and the physical and chemical modification of these materials to promote regeneration. and now shown as: Current therapies have limited capacity to curtail disease progression or damage of the central nervous system (CNS) of adult mammals and successful regeneration following injury or disease does not occur. Regeneration of the CNS is limited by physical and chemical inhibitory barriers within the injured environment and the absence of positive cues that elicit and guide repair. Neural tissue engineering strategies focus on developing scaffolds that artificially generate favourable cellular microenvironments that attempt to tip the balance in favour of regeneration. Some recent advances using scaffolds to promote regeneration within the CNS, particularly in conjunction with stem cells, has generated promising results. This review focuses on hydrogel scaffolds which have been used extensively in neural tissue engineering applications and addresses the physical and chemical modifications of these materials to promote nerve regeneration. The authors deeply regret any confusion caused by this error.