====== Shape-memory collagen scaffold ======

[[Intervertebral disc degeneration]] (IVDD) is a common cause of [[chronic low back pain]] (LBP) and a [[socioeconomic burden]] worldwide. Conservative therapies and surgical treatments provide only symptomatic [[pain]] [[relief]] without promoting [[intervertebral disc regeneration]]. Therefore, the clinical demand for disc regenerative therapies for [[intervertebral disc repair]] is high.

Koo et al. used a [[rat tail nucleotomy model]] to develop mechanically stable collagen-[[cryogel]] and [[fibrillated collagen]] with shape-memory for use in [[minimally invasive surgery]] for effective treatment of IVDD. The collagen was loaded with [[hyaluronic acid]] (HA) into a rat tail nucleotomy model.

The shape-memory collagen structures exhibited outstanding [[chondrogenic]] activities, having completely similar physical properties to those of a typical shape-memory alginate construct in terms of water absorption, compressive properties, and shape-memorability behavior. The treatment of rat tail nucleotomy model with shape-memory collagen-cryogel/HA alleviated mechanical allodynia, maintained a higher concentration of water content, and preserved the disc structure by restoring the matrix proteins.

According to these results, the [[collagen]]-based structure could effectively repair and maintain the [[Intervertebral disc]] [[matrix]] better than the controls, including [[hyaluronic acid]] only and shape-memory alginate with [[hyaluronic acid]]
((Koo YW, Lim CS, Darai A, Lee J, Kim W, Han I, Kim GH. Shape-memory collagen scaffold combined with hyaluronic acid for repairing [[intervertebral disc]]. Biomater Res. 2023 Mar 29;27(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s40824-023-00368-9. PMID: 36991502.))