Table 1.

Summary of the various molecular therapies in the nanoscale projects that show promise for the treatment of SCI. Keys: CNS: Central Nervous System; SCI: spinal cord injury; Ch’ase: Chondroitinase.

Project Name	Mechanism	Current Progress	Future Outlook	Ref.
Nogo Trap of ReNetX Bio	A decoy receptor that binds growth inhibitors, allowing for the nerve fibers to grow naturally and directly.	Nogo Trap has demonstrated improved neurologic function following CNS damage in several animal models.	Planning phase Ib–IIa clinical trials to test safety and efficacy for patients with a chronic cervical incomplete SCI.	[46]
CHASE-IT Preclinical Initiative of the International Spinal Research Trust (ISRT)	The application of the biological enzyme Ch’ase in animal models is reported to have degraded scar tissue, promoted growth and improved activity.	Ch’ase has proven to be effective in rats, delivered to both thoracic and cervical contusion injury sites. Latest animal studies took place in 2016 and proved that longer-term application of the enzyme led to more significant motor control improvement.	Promising outcome, but one should bear in mind that data is based on rodent in vivo models; will this translate to humans?	[47]
Intracellular sigma peptide (ISP), Ch’ase and combinations preclinical projects	Using the biological enzyme Ch’ase in combinations with intracellular sigma peptide in order to restore breathing after long chronic C2 hemisection injury.	These projects are at a single center led by Jerry Silver. Currently these applications are at a pre-clinical stage.	Development of the product and preparation for clinical trials.	[48]