FURI | Spring 2024

NRG1 Delivery via Sulfated-Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Microgels as a Neuroprotective Agent to Oxygen-Glucose Deprived (OGD) Neuronal Cells

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a primary cause of death and disability worldwide. Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) is a neuroprotective growth factor that has been shown to promote the survival and function of neurons after brain injury. This study aims to test whether sulfated-HA as a hydrogel material may serve as a delivery vehicle for NRG1 to ischemic primary neuronal cells. The outcome metric will be assessing the level of neuronal cell apoptosis via a TUNEL assay; experimental conditions will include supplementing media with and without NRG1 and NRG1 released from sulfated HA microgels.