Abstract
Neural regeneration after lesions is still limited by several factors and new technologies are developed to address this issue. Here, we present and test in animal models a new regenerative nerve cuff electrode (RnCE). It is based on a novel low-cost fabrication strategy, called “Print and Shrink”, which combines the inkjet printing of a conducting polymer with a heat-shrinkable polymer substrate for the development of a bioelectronic interface. This method allows to produce miniaturized regenerative cuff electrodes without the use of cleanroom facilities and vacuum based deposition methods, thus highly reducing the production costs. To fully proof the electrodes performance in vivo we assessed functional recovery and adequacy to support axonal regeneration after section of rat sciatic nerves and repair with RnCE. We investigated the possibility to stimulate the nerve to activate different muscles, both in acute and chronic scenarios. Three months after implantation, RnCEs were able to stimulate regenerated motor axons and induce a muscular response. The capability to produce fully-transparent nerve interfaces provided with polymeric microelectrodes through a cost-effective manufacturing process is an unexplored approach in neuroprosthesis field. Our findings pave the way to the development of new and more usable technologies for nerve regeneration and neuromodulation.
Highlights
Injuries to the peripheral nervous system (PNS) result in the partial or total loss of the motor, sensory and autonomic functions of the body part innervated by the lesioned nerve
Insights on the SU-8 printing and shrinking are provided in Supplementary Material (SU-8 printing process, Supplementary Figure 2)
In this study we present a novel regenerative peripheral nerve interfaces (PNIs), the regenerative nerve cuff electrode (RnCE), fabricated through a non-conventional low-cost approach, the Print and Shrink strategy
Summary
Injuries to the peripheral nervous system (PNS) result in the partial or total loss of the motor, sensory and autonomic functions of the body part innervated by the lesioned nerve. The quality of life of people who suffer from these conditions is significantly reduced and major social consequences are payed in terms of health-care (Rosberg et al, 2005). When the whole nerve is transected and the two nerve ends cannot be surgically rejoined, an autologous nerve graft is commonly interposed in clinical practice to support axons regeneration. Even with surgical repair, axonal regeneration may fail or be insufficient to allow. All-Polymer Printed Regenerative Cuff Electrodes functional reinnervation of targets and recovery of all motor and sensory functions. Prostheses and exoskeletons are therapeutic strategies used to improve patients’ quality of life after severe nerve injuries or limb amputations. For the application of neuroprosthesis, peripheral nerve interfaces (PNIs) are a key element as they provide a link between the nervous system and the mechanical device (del Valle and Navarro, 2013)
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