Hydrogel Blend Regulates Glutathione Release to Neutralize Free Radicals within Neuronal Cultures

Student Researcher: Eric Minner – Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering

Collaborator: Dr. Phillip Popovich, Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology & Medical Genetics, Ohio State University

Using our agarose, methylcellulose hydrogel blend, we have developed techniques to load into the hydrogel the anti-oxidant glutathione. Glutathione is a naturally occurring anti-oxidant that neutralizes free radicals within the body. After spinal cord injury, the concentration of free radical increases within damaged tissue. Our goal in this project is to determine the release rate of glutathione from the hydrogel and determine if the released glutathione rescues neurons subjected to reactive oxygen species.