Hydrogel-Based Innovations in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Bridging Pathophysiological Complexities and Translational Therapeutic Gaps
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent neuropathic disorder caused by chronic compression of the median nerve, leading to sensory and motor impairments. Conventional treatments, such as corticosteroid injections, wrist splinting, and surgical decompression, often fail to provide adequate outcom...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Venera Cristina Dinescu Liviu Martin Marius Bica Ramona Constantina Vasile Andrei Gresita Marius Bunescu Mihai Andrei Ruscu Madalina Aldea Alexandra Daniela Rotaru-Zavaleanu |
| author_facet | Venera Cristina Dinescu Liviu Martin Marius Bica Ramona Constantina Vasile Andrei Gresita Marius Bunescu Mihai Andrei Ruscu Madalina Aldea Alexandra Daniela Rotaru-Zavaleanu |
| author_sort | Venera Cristina Dinescu |
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| description | Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent neuropathic disorder caused by chronic compression of the median nerve, leading to sensory and motor impairments. Conventional treatments, such as corticosteroid injections, wrist splinting, and surgical decompression, often fail to provide adequate outcomes for chronic or recurrent cases, emphasizing the need for innovative therapies. Hydrogels, highly biocompatible three-dimensional biomaterials with customizable properties, hold significant potential for CTS management. Their ability to mimic the extracellular matrix facilitates localized drug delivery, anti-adhesion barrier formation, and tissue regeneration. Advances in hydrogel engineering have introduced stimuli-responsive systems tailored to the biomechanical environment of the carpal tunnel, enabling sustained therapeutic release and improved tissue integration. Despite these promising developments, hydrogel applications for CTS remain underexplored. Key challenges include the absence of CTS-specific preclinical models and the need for rigorous clinical validation. Addressing these gaps could unlock the full potential of hydrogel-based interventions, which offer minimally invasive, customizable solutions that could improve long-term outcomes and reduce recurrence rates. This review highlights hydrogels as a transformative approach to CTS therapy, advocating for continued research to address translational barriers. These innovations have the potential to redefine the treatment landscape, significantly enhancing patient care and quality of life. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d5cf6b5ea00d45798469c9db4c6be0282025-01-24T13:33:55ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-01-011115210.3390/gels11010052Hydrogel-Based Innovations in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Bridging Pathophysiological Complexities and Translational Therapeutic GapsVenera Cristina Dinescu0Liviu Martin1Marius Bica2Ramona Constantina Vasile3Andrei Gresita4Marius Bunescu5Mihai Andrei Ruscu6Madalina Aldea7Alexandra Daniela Rotaru-Zavaleanu8Department of Health Promotion and Occupational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rares Str., 200349 Craiova, RomaniaFaculty of Medical Care, Titu Maiorescu University, Văcărești Road, no 187, 040051 Bucharest, RomaniaDepartment of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rares Str., 200349 Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rares Str., 200349 Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rares Str., 200349 Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of Occupational Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rares Str., 200349 Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rares Str., 200349 Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rares Str., 200349 Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 2 Petru Rares Str., 200349 Craiova, RomaniaCarpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent neuropathic disorder caused by chronic compression of the median nerve, leading to sensory and motor impairments. Conventional treatments, such as corticosteroid injections, wrist splinting, and surgical decompression, often fail to provide adequate outcomes for chronic or recurrent cases, emphasizing the need for innovative therapies. Hydrogels, highly biocompatible three-dimensional biomaterials with customizable properties, hold significant potential for CTS management. Their ability to mimic the extracellular matrix facilitates localized drug delivery, anti-adhesion barrier formation, and tissue regeneration. Advances in hydrogel engineering have introduced stimuli-responsive systems tailored to the biomechanical environment of the carpal tunnel, enabling sustained therapeutic release and improved tissue integration. Despite these promising developments, hydrogel applications for CTS remain underexplored. Key challenges include the absence of CTS-specific preclinical models and the need for rigorous clinical validation. Addressing these gaps could unlock the full potential of hydrogel-based interventions, which offer minimally invasive, customizable solutions that could improve long-term outcomes and reduce recurrence rates. This review highlights hydrogels as a transformative approach to CTS therapy, advocating for continued research to address translational barriers. These innovations have the potential to redefine the treatment landscape, significantly enhancing patient care and quality of life.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/1/52carpal tunnel syndromebiomaterialshydrogelsfunctional hydrogelsperipheral nerve injuryCTS therapy |
| spellingShingle | Venera Cristina Dinescu Liviu Martin Marius Bica Ramona Constantina Vasile Andrei Gresita Marius Bunescu Mihai Andrei Ruscu Madalina Aldea Alexandra Daniela Rotaru-Zavaleanu Hydrogel-Based Innovations in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Bridging Pathophysiological Complexities and Translational Therapeutic Gaps Gels carpal tunnel syndrome biomaterials hydrogels functional hydrogels peripheral nerve injury CTS therapy |
| title | Hydrogel-Based Innovations in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Bridging Pathophysiological Complexities and Translational Therapeutic Gaps |
| title_full | Hydrogel-Based Innovations in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Bridging Pathophysiological Complexities and Translational Therapeutic Gaps |
| title_fullStr | Hydrogel-Based Innovations in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Bridging Pathophysiological Complexities and Translational Therapeutic Gaps |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrogel-Based Innovations in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Bridging Pathophysiological Complexities and Translational Therapeutic Gaps |
| title_short | Hydrogel-Based Innovations in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Bridging Pathophysiological Complexities and Translational Therapeutic Gaps |
| title_sort | hydrogel based innovations in carpal tunnel syndrome bridging pathophysiological complexities and translational therapeutic gaps |
| topic | carpal tunnel syndrome biomaterials hydrogels functional hydrogels peripheral nerve injury CTS therapy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/1/52 |
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