Compound nerve conduitpromoting peripheral nerve regeneration in rats

Abstract

：Objective To explore therole of compound nerve conduit, made of nerve growth factors (NGF) encapsuled bybiodegradable core-shell nanofibers through coaxial electrospinning, in regeneration ofinjured sciatic nerves in rats. Methods The compound nerve conduits were developed fromthe core-shell structured biodegradable nanofibers with P(LLA-CL) as a shell and BSA/NGFor BSA as a core through coaxial electrospinning. Seventy-two Sprague-Dawley rats wererandomly divided into 4 even groups. The middle segments (10 mm) of the sciatic nerve wereexcised and the defects were repaired with sciatic nerve autograft (group A), withP(LLA-CL) conduit (group B), with PLLA-CL conduit and one injection of NGF (group C), andwith P(LLA-CL)/NGF controlled-release conduit (group D), respectively. Morphologic andfunctional evaluations of nerve regeneration were done by gross observation, sciaticfunction index, neural electrophysiological examination, resumption rates of tricepsweight, histological and ultrastructural observa-tion respectively in 1, 2, 3 months afterthe operation. Results Three months after the operation, although partial biodegradationand small cracks could be observed, conduits remained intact in outline. Based on thefunctional and histological observations, nerve regeneration, nerve fibers arrangement,myelination and nerve function reconstruction in the P(LLA-CL)/NGF controlled-releaseconduit (group D) were similar to those in nerve autograft (group A) and significantlysuperior to those in groups B and C (P<0.05). Conclusion As theP(LLA-CL)/NGF-controlled release conduit has favorable mechanical properties andbiocompatibility, it can effectively promote regeneration of the sciatic nerve in rats.