Mexican researchers have synthesized a polymer that promises to restore the electrical connections in a damaged spinal cord, which could help injured people recover mobility. The technique has been tested in rats, in which 50 percent recovered the functioning of the spinal cord, researchers from the physics department of the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM) in Mexico City told Tierramérica.

There is great possibility that the polymer could be used in humans with spinal cord injuries, which, in conjunction with other medical treatments, could return mobility, according to Roberto Olayo, research coordinator.

The polymer they developed and synthesized in plasma is placed inside the spinal cord. It is biocompatible and helps the cells establish connections that had been interrupted by injury.