The need for tissue-engineered models to facilitate the study of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in traumatic brain injury and repair

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important public health issue as these high-rate mechanical insults to tissue, even on a mild scale, progress secondary cascades that prolong and augment the injury. More effective models are vital study mechanism progression. Although oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) mature oligodendrocytes (OLs) have been shown play large role in TBI recovery, research into OPC/OL effects post-injury has previously ignored favor of neuronal research. Optimizing hydrogel-based vitro model system elucidate unique contributions cascade would elevate molecular knowledge In this manuscript, we identify several key parameters potential next steps for consideration development such models.