{"id":"75205e77-2280-43cc-8499-5523c755bcb6","slug":"spinal-cord-fusion-with-peg-gnrs-texaspeg-neurophysiological-recovery-in-24-hours-in-rats","title":"Spinal cord fusion with PEG-GNRs (TexasPEG): Neurophysiological recovery in 24 hours in rats","authors":["C-Yoon Kim","William K. A. Sikkema","In-Kyu Hwang","Hanseul Oh","Un Jeng Kim","Bae Hwan Lee","James M. Tour"],"abstract":"Background: The GEMINI spinal cord fusion protocol has been developed to achieve a successful cephalosomatic anastomosis. Here, for the first time, we report the effects of locally applied water-soluble, conductive PEG(polyethylene glycol)ylated graphene nanoribbons (PEG-GNRs) on neurophysiologic conduction after sharp cervical cord transection in rats. PEG-GNRs were produced by the polymerization of ethylene oxide from anion-edged graphene nanoribbons. These combine the fusogenic potential of PEG with the electrical conducting properties of the graphene nanoribbons. Methods: Laminectomy and transection of cervical spinal cord (C5) was performed on Female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. After applying PEG-GNR on the severed part, electrophysiological recovery of the reconstructed cervical spinal cord was confirmed by somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) at 24 h after surgery. Results: While no SSEPs were detected in the control group, PEG-GNR treated group showed fast recovery of SSEPs at 24 h after the surgery. Conclusion: In this preliminary dataset, for the first time, we report the effect of a novel form of PEG with the goal of rapid reconstruction of a sharply severed spinal cord.","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/75205e77-2280-43cc-8499-5523c755bcb6/featured/hero-1782420892041.png","publishDate":"2016-09-19T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.4103/2152-7806.190475","categories":["Spine","Original Article"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/api/articles/75205e77-2280-43cc-8499-5523c755bcb6/pdf"}