Fabrication of Indole-3-propionic acid loaded hydrogels for spinal cord injury repair

Indole-3-propionic acid loaded hydrogels were synthesized for spinal cord injury. • The synthesized hydrogels possessed good biocompatibility and alleviated oxidative stress. • The hydrogels significantly enhanced recovery of both motor and sensory functions. • The hydrogels provided a novel therapeutic strategy for SCI treatment. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating neurological condition with an exceptionally high disability rate. The clinical management of SCI remains suboptimal primarily owing to both the inhibitory characteristics of the post-injury microenvironment and inherently limited regenerative ability. In this study, we report an indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) loaded polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDA)/lysine hydrogel for repairing spinal cord injury. Compressive Young's moduli of hydrogels can be precisely tuned by adjusting the compositional ratios. The IPA loaded hydrogels exhibits not only excellent biocompatibility but also possesses a remarkable ability to alleviate oxidative stress. In an established spinal cord injury model, 3.4 kPa IPA loaded hydrogels significantly enhanced functional recovery, promoted axonal regeneration, and supported the growth of newborn neurons. These findings indicate that the IPA loaded hydrogel offers a promising new therapeutic avenue for SCI treament.