Materials for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Recent efforts in scientific research in the field of peripheral nerve regeneration have been directed towards the development of artificial nerve guides. We have studied various materials with the aim of obtaining a biocompatible and biodegradable two layer guide for nerve repair. The candidate materials for use as an external layer for the nerve guides were poly(caprolactone) (PCL), a biosynthetic blend between PCL and chitosan (CS) and a synthesised poly(ester-urethane) (PU). Blending PCL, which is a biocompatible synthetic polymer, with a natural polymer enhanced the system biocompatibility and biomimetics, fastened the degradation rates and reduced the production costs. Various novel block poly(ester-urethane)s are being synthesised by our group with tailored properties for specific tissue engineering applications. One of these poly(ester-urethane)s, based on a low molecular weight poly(caprolactone) as the macrodiol, cycloesandimethanol as the chain extender and hexamethylene diisocyanate as the chain linker, was investigated for the production of melt extruded nerve guides. We studied natural polymers such as gelatin (G), poly(L-lysine) (PL) and blends between chitosan and gelatin (CS/G) as internal coatings for nerve guides. In vitro and in vivo tests were performed on PCL guides internally coated either with G or PL to determine the differences in the quality of nerve regeneration associated with the type of adhesion protein. CS/G natural blends combined the good cell adhesion properties of the protein phase with the ability to promote nerve regeneration of the polysaccharide phase. Natural blends were crosslinked both by physical and chemical crosslinking methods. In vitro neuroblast adhesion tests were performed on CS/G film samples, PCL/CS and PU guides internally coated with G to evaluate the ability of such materials towards nerve repair.

[1]  Y. Gong,et al.  Studies on nerve cell affinity of biodegradable modified chitosan films , 2003, Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition.

[2]  K. Shakesheff,et al.  Spatial confinement of neurite regrowth from dorsal root ganglia within nonporous microconduits. , 2003, Tissue engineering.

[3]  Patrick Tresco,et al.  Neurite outgrowth on well-characterized surfaces: preparation and characterization of chemically and spatially controlled fibronectin and RGD substrates with good bioactivity. , 2005, Biomaterials.

[4]  Kam W Leong,et al.  Peripheral nerve regeneration by microbraided poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) biodegradable polymer fibers. , 2004, Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A.

[5]  T. Corrales,et al.  Biodegradation of type-B gelatine by bacteria isolated from cinematographic films. A viscometric study , 2004 .

[6]  J. McPherson,et al.  The human immune response to reconstituted bovine collagen. , 1986, Journal of immunology.

[7]  Rajiv Midha,et al.  Axonal guidance channels in peripheral nerve regeneration , 2004 .

[8]  Chun-Hsu Yao,et al.  An in vivo evaluation of a biodegradable genipin-cross-linked gelatin peripheral nerve guide conduit material. , 2005, Biomaterials.

[9]  M. Oka,et al.  Collagen filaments as a scaffold for nerve regeneration. , 2001, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[10]  Chun-Hsu Yao,et al.  Peripheral nerve regeneration using silicone rubber chambers filled with collagen, laminin and fibronectin. , 2000 .

[11]  James P. Hollowell,et al.  Nerve growth factor enhances regeneration through silicone chambers , 1989, Experimental Neurology.

[12]  Antonios G Mikos,et al.  Biomimetic materials for tissue engineering. , 2003, Biomaterials.

[13]  J. Rosen,et al.  The Artificial Nerve Graft: A Comparison of Blended Elastomer-Hydrogel with Polyglycolic Acid Conduits , 1991, Journal of reconstructive microsurgery.

[14]  Y. Inada,et al.  Experimental study on the regeneration of peripheral nerve gaps through a polyglycolic acid–collagen (PGA–collagen) tube , 2004, Brain Research.

[15]  J. Feijen,et al.  Copolymers of trimethylene carbonate and ε-caprolactone for porous nerve guides: Synthesis and properties , 2001 .

[16]  Y. Gong,et al.  Physical, mechanical and degradation properties, and Schwann cell affinity of cross-linked chitosan films , 2005, Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition.

[17]  A. Maelicke,et al.  Neuronal networks in vitro: formation and organization on biofunctionalized surfaces , 1999, Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine.

[18]  K. Kataoka,et al.  Immobilization of laminin peptide in molecularly aligned chitosan by covalent bonding. , 2005, Biomaterials.

[19]  S T Li,et al.  A collagen‐based nerve guide conduit for peripheral nerve repair: An electrophysiological study of nerve regeneration in rodents and nonhuman primates , 1991, The Journal of comparative neurology.

[20]  H. Junginger,et al.  Chitosan microparticles for mucosal vaccination against diphtheria: oral and nasal efficacy studies in mice. , 2003, Vaccine.

[21]  B. Uzman,et al.  Mouse sciatic nerve regeneration through semipermeable tubes: A quantitative model , 1983, Journal of neuroscience research.

[22]  Xiaosong Gu,et al.  The interaction of Schwann cells with chitosan membranes and fibers in vitro. , 2004, Biomaterials.

[23]  S. Ichinose,et al.  A study of induction of nerve regeneration using bioabsorbable tubes. , 2001, Journal of reconstructive microsurgery.

[24]  X Navarro,et al.  Highly permeable polylactide-caprolactone nerve guides enhance peripheral nerve regeneration through long gaps. , 1999, Biomaterials.

[25]  J. Bishop,et al.  Association of pRas and pRaf-1 in a complex correlates with activation of a signal transduction pathway , 1993, Current Biology.

[26]  A Gramsbergen,et al.  Transection of peripheral nerves, bridging strategies and effect evaluation. , 2004, Biomaterials.

[27]  F. Stang,et al.  Structural parameters of collagen nerve grafts influence peripheral nerve regeneration. , 2005, Biomaterials.

[28]  T. Chandy,et al.  Development of chitosan/polyethylene vinyl acetate co-matrix: controlled release of aspirin-heparin for preventing cardiovascular thrombosis. , 1997, Biomaterials.

[29]  N. Swanson,et al.  Intradermal implantation of bovine collagen. Humoral immune responses associated with clinical reactions. , 1984, Archives of dermatology.

[30]  K. Yao,et al.  Antibacterial action of chitosan and carboxymethylated chitosan , 2001 .

[31]  N. J. Coker,et al.  Analysis of axonal regeneration through the silicone regeneration chamber: A retrograde tracing study in the rabbit facial nerve , 1990, Experimental Neurology.

[32]  D. Snow,et al.  Interactions of developing neurons with the extracellular matrix , 1994, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.

[33]  P H Robinson,et al.  Long‐term evaluation of nerve regeneration in a biodegradable nerve guide , 1993, Microsurgery.

[34]  L. Lazzeri,et al.  Dextran/poly(acrylic acid) mixtures as miscible blends , 1997 .

[35]  L. Lazzeri,et al.  Bioartificial materials based on blends of collagen and poly(acrylic acid) , 1999 .

[36]  T. Iwaki,et al.  Photofabricated Gelatin-Based Nerve Conduits: Nerve Tissue Regeneration Potentials , 2004, Cell transplantation.

[37]  S. Ichinose,et al.  Hydroxyapatite-coated tendon chitosan tubes with adsorbed laminin peptides facilitate nerve regeneration in vivo , 2003, Brain Research.

[38]  J. Mao,et al.  A preliminary study on chitosan and gelatin polyelectrolyte complex cytocompatibility by cell cycle and apoptosis analysis. , 2004, Biomaterials.

[39]  G. Lundborg,et al.  Tubular Repair of the Median Nerve in the Human Forearm , 1994, Journal of hand surgery.

[40]  Joel Rosenblatt,et al.  Preparation and physicochemical characterization of biodegradable nerve guides containing the nerve growth agent sabeluzole. , 2005, Biomaterials.

[41]  James N. Campbell,et al.  Complications from silicon‐polymer intubulation of nerves , 1989, Microsurgery.

[42]  C. Heath,et al.  The development of bioartificial nerve grafts for peripheral-nerve regeneration. , 1998, Trends in biotechnology.

[43]  Giovanni Vozzi,et al.  Blends of Poly-(ε-caprolactone) and Polysaccharides in Tissue Engineering Applications , 2005 .

[44]  W. F. A. DEN DUNNEN,et al.  Peripheral nerve regeneration through P(DLLA-ε-CL) nerve guides , 1998, Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine.

[45]  Xavier Navarro,et al.  Magnetically Aligned Collagen Gel Filling a Collagen Nerve Guide Improves Peripheral Nerve Regeneration , 1999, Experimental Neurology.

[46]  M. Akagi,et al.  Bridging a 30-mm nerve defect using collagen filaments. , 2003, Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A.

[47]  E. Laemmel,et al.  Heparin immobilized on proteins usable for arterial prosthesis coating: growth inhibition of smooth-muscle cells. , 1998, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[48]  J. Heller,et al.  Lysozyme degradation of partially deacetylated chitin, its films and hydrogels. , 1982, Biomaterials.

[49]  B. Seckel,et al.  Enhancement of peripheral nerve regeneration , 1990, Muscle & nerve.

[50]  T. Trumble,et al.  The physiology of nerve transplantation. , 2000, Hand clinics.

[51]  A. Utani,et al.  Identification of Neurite Outgrowth Promoting Sites on the Laminin α3 Chain G Domain , 2002 .

[52]  F. Berthod,et al.  Nerve regeneration in a collagen-chitosan tissue-engineered skin transplanted on nude mice. , 2003, Biomaterials.

[53]  S. Wolfe,et al.  Peripheral Nerve Injury and Repair , 2000, The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

[54]  X. Navarro,et al.  Influence of Collagen and Laminin Gels Concentration on Nerve Regeneration after Resection and Tube Repair , 1998, Experimental Neurology.

[55]  S. Mallapragada,et al.  Oriented Schwann cell growth on micropatterned biodegradable polymer substrates. , 2001, Biomaterials.

[56]  C. A. de Carvalho Zavaglia,et al.  Preparation of bioabsorbable nerve guide tubes. , 2000, Artificial organs.

[57]  I. Yannas,et al.  Selection of biomaterials for peripheral nerve regeneration using data from the nerve chamber model. , 2004, Biomaterials.

[58]  S. Downes,et al.  Blends of synthetic and natural polymers as drug delivery systems for growth hormone. , 1995, Biomaterials.

[59]  M. Schumacher,et al.  Progesterone synthesis and myelin formation by Schwann cells , 1995 .

[60]  J W Griffin,et al.  Wallerian degeneration in peripheral nerve disease. , 1992, Neurologic clinics.

[61]  A Oosterhof,et al.  Preparation and characterization of porous crosslinked collagenous matrices containing bioavailable chondroitin sulphate. , 1999, Biomaterials.

[62]  N. Hikawa,et al.  Isolation and age‐related characterization of mouse Schwann cells from dorsal root ganglion explants in type I collagen gels , 1993, Journal of Neuroscience Research.

[63]  L. Garcia-Segura,et al.  Facial nerve regeneration through progesterone-loaded chitosan prosthesis. A preliminary report. , 2003, Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials.

[64]  Giovanni Vozzi,et al.  Microfabricated PLGA scaffolds: a comparative study for application to tissue engineering , 2002 .

[65]  Hollinger,et al.  Sustained release emphasizing recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2. , 1998, Advanced drug delivery reviews.

[66]  K. Marra,et al.  Multi-channeled biodegradable polymer/CultiSpher composite nerve guides. , 2004, Biomaterials.

[67]  M. Grant,et al.  Chondroitin-6-sulphate incorporated into collagen gels for the growth of human keratinocytes: the effect of cross-linking agents and diamines. , 1996, Biomaterials.

[68]  C. Doré,et al.  Nerve Growth Factor Enhances Nerve Regeneration through Fibronectin Grafts , 1996, Journal of hand surgery.

[69]  H. Itoh,et al.  Evaluation of cross-linking procedures of collagen tubes used in peripheral nerve repair. , 2002, Biomaterials.

[70]  Y. Gong,et al.  Study on physical properties and nerve cell affinity of composite films from chitosan and gelatin solutions. , 2003, Biomaterials.

[71]  L. Lazzeri,et al.  Physico-chemical and mechanical characterization of hydrogels of poly (vinyl alcohol) and hyaluronic acid , 1994 .

[72]  R. Bunge The role of the Schwann cell in trophic support and regeneration , 1994, Journal of Neurology.

[73]  Mansoor M. Amiji,et al.  Preparation and Characterization of Freeze-dried Chitosan-Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Hydrogels for Site-Specific Antibiotic Delivery in the Stomach , 1996, Pharmaceutical Research.

[74]  G. Ciardelli,et al.  Bioartificial polymeric materials based on polysaccharides , 2001, Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition.

[75]  S. Ramakrishna,et al.  Fabrication of nano-structured porous PLLA scaffold intended for nerve tissue engineering. , 2004, Biomaterials.

[76]  Jui-Sheng Sun,et al.  Biocompatibility of NGF-grafted GTG membranes for peripheral nerve repair using cultured Schwann cells. , 2004, Biomaterials.

[77]  Z. Xiufang,et al.  Surface Modification and Characterization of Chitosan Film Blended with Poly-L-Lysine , 2004, Journal of biomaterials applications.

[78]  Giovanni Vozzi,et al.  Innovative tissue engineering structures through advanced manufacturing technologies , 2004, Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine.

[79]  M. Schumacher,et al.  Progesterone Stimulates the Activity of the Promoters of Peripheral Myelin Protein‐22 and Protein Zero Genes in Schwann Cells , 1998, Journal of neurochemistry.

[80]  Gianluca Ciardelli,et al.  Segmented Polyurethanes for Medical Applications: Synthesis, Characterization and in vitro Enzymatic Degradation Studies , 2001 .