Acceleration of peripheral nerve regeneration through asymmetrically porous nerve guide conduit applied with biological/physical stimulation

Tissue Eng Part A. 2013 Dec;19(23-24):2674-85. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEA.2012.0735. Epub 2013 Aug 21.

Abstract

Sufficient functional restoration of damaged peripheral nerves is a big clinical challenge. In this study, a nerve guide conduit (NGC) with selective permeability was prepared by rolling an asymmetrically porous polycaprolactone/Pluronic F127 membrane fabricated using a novel immersion precipitation method. Dual stimulation (nerve growth factor [NGF] as a biological stimulus and low-intensity pulse ultrasound [US] as a physical stimulus) was adapted to enhance nerve regeneration through an NGC. The animal study revealed that each stimulation (NGF or US) has a positive effect to promote the peripheral nerve regeneration through the NGC, however, the US-stimulated NGC group allowed more accelerated nerve regeneration compared with the NGF-stimulated group. The NGC group that received dual stimulation (NGF and US) showed more effective nerve regeneration behavior than the groups that received a single stimulation (NGF or US). The asymmetrically porous NGC with dual NGF and US stimulation may be a promising strategy for the clinical treatment of delayed and insufficient functional recovery of a peripheral nerve.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Nerve Growth Factor / chemistry*
  • Nerve Regeneration*
  • Peripheral Nerve Injuries / pathology
  • Peripheral Nerve Injuries / therapy*
  • Peripheral Nerves / metabolism*
  • Peripheral Nerves / pathology
  • Poloxamer / chemistry*
  • Polyesters / chemistry*
  • Porosity
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Polyesters
  • Poloxamer
  • polycaprolactone
  • Nerve Growth Factor