Bioengineering solutions for neural repair and recovery in stroke

Purpose of review This review discusses emerging bioengineering opportunities for the treatment of stroke and their potential to build on current rehabilitation protocols. Recent findings Bioengineering is a vast field that ranges from biomaterials to brain-computer interfaces. Biomaterials find application in the delivery of pharmacotherapies, as well as the emerging field of tissue engineering. For the treatment of stroke, these approaches have to be seen in the context of physical therapy in order to maximize functional outcomes. There is also an emergence of rehabilitation that engages engineering solutions, such as robot-assisted training, as well as brain-computer interfaces that can potentially assist in the case of paralysis. Summary Stroke remains the main cause of adult disability with rehabilitation therapy being the focus for chronic impairments. Bioengineering is offering new opportunities to both support and synergize with currently available treatment options, and also promises to potentially dramatically improve available approaches. Video abstract available See the Video Supplementary Digital Content 1 (http://links.lww.com/CONR/A21).