Conductive nerve guide conduits based on wet-adhesive hydrogel to accelerate peripheral nerve repair

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injury is a serious traumatic condition, and primary repair or tension-free anastomosis remains an unresolved challenge in nerve restoration. Currently, surgical treatment has critical limitations, such as granulomatous inflammation and numbness of the end limbs. Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs), which are tissue-adaptable and conductive, have shown promise for effective nerve repair. Inspired by the adhesion mechanism (cation–π interactions) of bilayer membrane systems and mussel foot proteins, we developed a promising wireless suture using wet-adhesive hydrogel NGCs. The prepared hydrogel conduits had good electrical conductivity, flexibility, mechanical stability, and wet tissue adhesion and exhibited excellent cytocompatibility with neuronal and Schwann cells. An in vivo rat sciatic nerve transection injury model confirmed that the hydrogel NGCs not only firmly adhere to wet nerve tissue and corkingly connect the proximal to distal ends, but also improve electroconduction velocity and sciatic nerve function index, which significantly enhance peripheral nerve repair. Histological analysis and immunostaining confirmed robust and orderly nerve regeneration through the conductive hydrogel NGCs. In summary, wet-adhesive hydrogel NGCs may serve as effective wireless suture candidates for promoting neural repair.