mPEG-PCL from PolySciTech used in development of Myoblast therapy for paralysis treatment.

 

In the wake of nerve injury, typically the down-stream nerves from that location atrophy away over time to the point that even repairing the original nerve damage would not restore function in the case of paralysis. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University used mPEG-PCL (AK128, https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AK128#h) from PolySciTech division of Akina, Inc (www.polyscitech.com) to develop growth-factor releasing nanoparticles for co-delivery with myoblasts as a way to restore nerve cells in muscle after injury. This research holds promise to provide for treatment of paralysis in the future. Read more: Dias, Shaquielle, William Padovano, Chenhu Qiu, Thomas Harris, Rachana Suresh, Erica Lee, Eszter Mihaly et al. "Myoblast Therapy Ameliorates Skeletal Muscle Atrophy Resulting From Chronic Denervation." Muscle & Nerve 74, no. 1 (2026): 243-254. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mus.70254

“Skeletal muscle undergoes progressive denervation-induced muscle atrophy (DIMA) after peripheral nerve injury that severely impairs the potential for motor functional recovery with reinnervation. There are currently no therapeutic strategies to reverse the deleterious effects of chronic DIMA, leaving affected patients with lifelong disability. Herein, we used a translational rodent forelimb nerve injury model to investigate whether targeted injection of syngeneic myoblasts to chronically atrophic muscle can reverse the histologic and functional consequences of DIMA. Male Lewis rats underwent median nerve transection followed by immediate (positive control) or delayed repair. Following a plateau of motor function, myoblasts were injected into the digital flexor muscles (n = 5–6 per group), delivered in either saline or a nanofiber hydrogel composite (NHC) loaded with agrin- and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)-releasing nanoparticles (npNHC). Serial functional assessments of stimulated grip strength and terminal histological evaluation were used to measure recovery. Satellite cell-rich (Pax7 Hi ) myoblast therapy caused sustained improvement in stimulated grip strength from pretreatment baseline (p < 0.05). Histological evaluation demonstrated that myoblast therapy, when delivered in npNHC, reversed whole muscle atrophy compared to positive controls [p = 0.997 and 0.996] and restored mean myofiber cross-sectional area [p = 0.244]. Correlation analysis demonstrated functional improvements were associated with increased myofiber cross-sectional area [r = 0.900, p = 3.01E-09]. Hai-Quan Mao, Sami Tuffaha, Thomas Harris, and Erica Lee are co-inventors on US and PCT patent applications related to NHC and IGF-1/agrin release platforms filed and managed by the Office of Johns Hopkins University Technology Ventures. All other authors have no financial disclosures or conflicts of interest.”

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