With the development of neural tissue engineering, the therapeutic outcomes of gene and cell therapies were now constantly augmenting for some neurological disorders. Gene and cell therapies have a high potentiality to be an ultimate therapeutical strategy for clinical treatment of most neurological disorders, especially those neurodegenerative diseases. However, the potential applications and mechanisms for such treatments are still poorly comprehended and are still the research focus of neuroscience. Knowledge and understanding of the advantages of the combination of neural tissue engineering with gene and cell therapies will lead to the development of novel tools and successful therapies to neurological illnesses.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to explore the application of tissue engineering in gene and cell therapies for neurological disorders. For further clinical usage in neurological disorders, we are particularly interested in articles describing new and novel gene vectors as well as ideal routes of administration; application of biocompatible biomaterials for gene delivery system and cell-carriers; effects of microenvironment on gene expression and cell transplantation; imaging techniques for tracking transplanted gene and cells.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Development of highly efficient gene expression and delivery system including viral and nonviral gene vectors for tissue repair in the nervous system
• Exploration and evaluation of the efficiency of new ideal routes of administration of gene and cells into brain
• Evaluation of appropriate biomaterials in terms of biocompatibility and biodegradability, biomechanical competency, and functionalization with instructive cues to guide neuroregeneration
• Tissue engineering which integrates cell therapies and scaffolding technologies to replace damaged neurons and to reestablish the coaxial connection of neuronal circuits for functional recovery
• Assessment of the safety and toxic side effects with gene and cell therapies
• Latest technologies of noninvasive in vivo imaging to track the transplanted gene or cells