Serotonergic System-Targeted Nucleic Acid Hydrogel Coordinates Excitability Restoration and Circuit Reconstruction for Spinal Cord Injury Therapy.

ABSTRACT: Despite the persistence of spared spinal circuits capable of relaying commands after spinal cord injury (SCI), their contribution to recovery remains constrained by functional dormancy of spared neurons and impaired reconnection across the lesion. Serotonergic neuromodulation is pivotal for reactivating dormant neurons, however, achieving precise targeting and modulation of the serotonergic system poses translational challenges. Here, a DNA/RNA heteroduplex hydrogel is reported that integrates 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-mediated neuronal excitability restoration with phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-targeted spinal circuit reconstruction for SCI therapy. The 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)-derived motif, serving both as a targeting ligand and as a neuromodulator, is site-specifically graf

SUBMITTER: Li C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12921341 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature