Neural encapsulation

Neural progenitor cells were successfully encapsulated in vitro (Silva et al. 2004) in a manner similar to the previous case, but in this case the PA contained the... 

Today, with the exception of bone marrow for hematopoietic reconstitution, therapeutic cellular transplantation is an emerging technology. In recent years novel approaches in the potential restoration of function through cellular transplantation have included the use of fetal human or xenogeneic neural tissue for Parkinson s disease, ectopically implanted pancreatic islets for diabetes, Schwann cells and olfactory ensheathing glia for spinal cord injury, encapsulated chromaffin cells for pain, and various types of stem cells for the treatment of diabetes, cardiac disease, and central nervous system injuries or disease [2], There have also been trials of encapsulated cells to provide enzymes that either remove toxic products or provide activation of prodrugs to therapeutics, usually anticancer derivatives. 

Astrocytes. Astrocytes constitute about 85% of all glial cells in the CNS thus their numbers surpass all other cell types, including neurons. Occupying this large fraction of total neural mass, it is perhaps not surprising that astrocytes maintain connections with both microvasculature and neurons. This positioning puts them in immediate contact with the incoming source of most neurotoxicants, the blood. Consequently, part of the protective function of astrocytes is their critical role in the formation of the blood-brain barrier (further discussed in Section 31.4.2.2). Astrocyte endfeet (the widened ends of astrocyte projections) wrap around capillaries and encapsulate... 

Yuksel, N. Turkoglu, M. Baykara, T. Modelhng of the solvent evaporation method for the preparation of controlled release acrylic micro spheres using neural networks. J. Micro 89. encapsulation. 2000, 17, 541-551. 

Brain Parkinson s and Huntington s diseases Neurons Membrane Replacement, encapsulation Dopamine production, neural network re-established [27]... 

Implanted neural prostheses must be encapsulated in order to protect their electronics against aggressive body fluids and in turn to protect the body tissue against degradation products from the electronics. The use of parylene-C as an encapsulation material... 

Hsu JM, Rieth L, Normann RA, Tathireddy P, Solzbacher F. Encapsulation of an integrated neural interface device with parylene c. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2009 56(l) 23-9. 

Hassler C, von Metzen RP, Ruther P, Stieglitz T. Characterization of parylene C as an encapsulation material for implanted neural pros-theses. J Biomed Mater Res Part B Appl Biomater 2010 93(l) 266-74. 

Cullen, D.K., Patel, A.R., Doorish, J.F., Smith, D.H., Pfister, B.J., 2008. Developing a tissue-engineered neural-electiical relay using encapsulated neuronal constructs on conducting polymer fibers. J. Neural Eng. 5, 374—384. 

Polymer materials have been established as excellent materials in chemistry, automotives and electronics to interconnect different components, to electrically insulate conductors and to survive harsh corrosive environments. Polyimides are the most common material class for substrate and insulation materials in combination with metals for interconnection wires and electrode sites. Therefore, it is quite natural that the medical device industry has focused its attention to polyimides for medical devices in general and especially for encapsulation and insulation of active implants. Neural implants are technical systems that are mainly used to stimulate parts and structures of the nervous system with the aid of implanted electrical circuitry or record the electrical activity of nerve cells. Their application... 

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