Preclinical study of peripheral nerve regeneration using nerve guidance conduits based on polyhydroxyalkanaotes

Bioengineering & Translational Medicine

Stefano Geuna¹  Federica Fregnan¹  Giulia Ronchi¹  Ipsita Roy²  Rinat Nigmatullin³  Lorena R. Lizarraga‐Valderrama³  Alexandra Paxinou³  Pooja Basnett³ 

[1] Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences University of Turin Turin Italy;Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Sheffield Sheffield UK;School of Life Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences University of Westminster London UK;

关键词: nerve regeneration;    nerve tissue engineering;    peripheral nerve regeneration;   

DOI  :  10.1002/btm2.10223

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) are used as an alternative to the “gold standard” nerve autografting, preventing the need for surgical intervention required to harvest autologous nerves. However, the regeneration outcomes achieved with the current NGCs are only comparable with autografting when the gap is short (less than 10 mm). In the present study, we have developed NGCs made from a blend of polyhydroxyalkanoates, a family of natural resorbable polymers. Hollow NGCs made from a 75:25 poly(3‐hydroxyoctanoate)/poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) blend (PHA‐NGCs) were manufactured using dip‐molding. These PHA‐NGCs showed appropriate flexibility for peripheral nerve regeneration. In vitro cell studies performed using RT4‐D6P2T rat Schwann cell line confirmed that the material is capable of sustaining cell proliferation and adhesion. PHA‐NGCs were then implanted in vivo to repair 10 mm gaps of the median nerve of female Wistar rats for 12 weeks. Functional evaluation of the regenerated nerve using the grasping test showed that PHA‐NGCs displayed similar motor recovery as the autograft, starting from week 7. Additionally, nerve cross‐sectional area, density and number of myelinated cells, as well as axon diameter, fiber diameter, myelin thickness and g‐ratio obtained using the PHA‐NGCs were found comparable to an autograft. This preclinical data confirmed that the PHA‐NGCs are indeed highly promising candidates for peripheral nerve regeneration.

【 授权许可】

Unknown