Finding a Traumatic Brain Injury Cure That Sticks

UGA researchers create ‘Brain Glue’ hydrogel that adheres to the brain and helps repair injuries.

At a cost of $38 billion per year, an estimated 5.3 million people are living with a permanent disability related to traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The physical, mental and financial toll of a TBI can be enormous, but new research from the University of Georgia provides promise.

Researchers at the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center have developed Brain Glue, a substance that could one day serve as a treatment for traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs.

The Brain Glue is a hydrogel matrix with a gelatin-like consistency that acts as a scaffolding for transplanted stem cells, which are capable of repairing damaged tissue. With the unique ability to take the shape of the void left in the brain after a severe trauma, the Brain Glue will enable a more natural healing environment for stem cells to colonize and regenerate.

Close-up image of a hand performing pharmaceutical research into brain disorders including dementia and Alzheimer's with an eppendorf tube.

“It’s very common with these invasive injuries that surgeons will actually remove the part of the dead brain leaving behind a cavity or hole. The question is, then, can you replace that with something like our Brain Glue ... "
Lohitash Karumbaiah, assistant professor in UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Lohitash Karumbaiah, assistant professor in UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, led the team that designed and created Brain Glue. The main difference between Brain Glue and other synthetic hydrogels, according to the team, is the variety of possibilities to trap neural stem cells, improve integration and reduce the likelihood of rejection.

“It’s very common with these invasive injuries that surgeons will actually remove the part of the dead brain leaving behind a cavity or hole,” said Karumbaiah.

“The question is, then, can you replace that with something like our Brain Glue, loaded up with compounds native to the brain together with a mix of protective agents that can be incorporated for the best therapeutic outcome.”

“The cool thing about this chemistry is that you can take our Brain Glue liquid formulation and then very briefly expose it to long-wave UV light and form a hydrogel in any shape you like,” he said.

Every day, 153 people in the U.S. die from injuries that include TBI, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those who survive a TBI may live with impaired thinking, memory, movement or sensation. TBIs can also lead to personality and emotional changes.

With support from UGA’s Innovation Gateway (our intellectual property licensing and startup support arm), Karumbaiah has filed for a patent on the brain glue. He is also partnering with Parastoo Azadi, technical director of analytical services at the UGA Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, and GlycoMIP, a $23 million National Science Foundation-funded Materials Innovation Platform created to advance the field of glycomaterials through research and education.

His work has also been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Regenerative Engineering and Medicine Center seed grant program, and an Alliance for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research and Training technology development grant.