Treating Degenerative Disc Disease with Injectable Polymers?

posted in Degenerative Disc Disease, What's New

« Disc Motion Technologies Spinal Joint Replacement Device | Minimally invasive laminectomy: Better Than Traditional Open Procedure? »

What is the idea behind the development of injectable polymers to treat degenerative disc disease? How do these work?

Answer

Research is currently being conducted on a variety of chemical polymers that can be used to replace degenerated intervertebral discs. Researchers hope to develop a chemical compound that displays properties similar to the nucleus pulposus – mainly, a combination of flexibility, strength and resistance to compression. One such polymer in development is a pH-responsive microgel, recently reported in the journal Soft Matter.

This material is composed of nanometer-sized microsponges that can be injected into the intervertebral disc. As the material reached the pH of the nucleus pulposus, the particles swell to fill the space within the disc. The gel becomes harder, and resists axial compression as a normal, healthy disc would do.

Promising features of this microgel are its minimally invasive application technique, the capacity to fill the irregular space within the disc, and the ability to perform revision procedures (such as fusion) should further intervention be necessary.

For more information see:
http://www.rsc.org/Publishing/ChemScience/Volume/2008/06/gels_fix_bad_backs.asp
http://www.rsc.org/delivery/_ArticleLinking/DisplayHTMLArticleforfree.cfm?JournalCode=SM&Year=2008&Manu