Biohybride nerve guide for regeneration: degradable polylactide fibers coated with rat Schwann cells

The restricted capacity of the nervous system to regenerate calls for novel therapeutic concepts. We have tested biocompatible polylactide fibers as potential nerve guides that could bridge proximal nerve stumps and synaptic target regions after nerve lesion. Polylactides have the great advantage that they degrade and resorb after completion of regeneration. Material surface properties were optimized three-fold by oxygen plasma treatment, polyanion coating and the seeding of Schwann cells from rat sciatic nerve. Immunocytochemistry and scanning electron microscopy revealed that in vitro axonal outgrowth of dorsal root ganglia on two specifically synthesized lactide polymers can be greatly improved by these surface treatments. The approach aims to develop an 'intelligent neuroprosthesis' that in vivo facilitates directed axonal regrowth in the first place and disappears thereafter.

[1]  H. Stier,et al.  Axonal Versus Dendritic Outgrowth Is Differentially Affected by Radial Glia in Discrete Layers of the Retina , 1998, The Journal of Neuroscience.

[2]  P Aebischer,et al.  Basic fibroblast growth factor released from synthetic guidance channels facilitates peripheral nerve regeneration across long nerve gaps , 1989, Journal of neuroscience research.

[3]  S. Mackinnon,et al.  The Role of Conduits in Nerve Repair: A Review , 1996, Reviews in the neurosciences.

[4]  Yoshihisa Suzuki,et al.  Cat peripheral nerve regeneration across 50 mm gap repaired with a novel nerve guide composed of freeze-dried alginate gel , 1999, Neuroscience Letters.

[5]  B. Schlosshauer,et al.  Topological distribution of different forms of neural cell adhesion molecule in the developing chick visual system , 1984, Nature.

[6]  D. F. Davey,et al.  Peripheral nerve regeneration through nerve guides seeded with adult Schwann cells , 1997, Neuropathology and applied neurobiology.

[7]  W. D. den Dunnen,et al.  Biological performance of a degradable poly(lactic acid-epsilon-caprolactone) nerve guide: influence of tube dimensions. , 1995, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[8]  P. M. Galletti,et al.  Blind-ended semipermeable guidance channels support peripheral nerve regeneration in the absence of a distal nerve stump , 1988, Brain Research.

[9]  M. Raff,et al.  Studies on cultured rat Schwann cells. I. Establishment of purified populations from cultures of peripheral nerve , 1979, Brain Research.

[10]  M. Maltarello,et al.  Effectiveness of a bioabsorbable conduit in the repair of peripheral nerves. , 1996, Biomaterials.

[11]  J. Guest,et al.  The Ability of Human Schwann Cell Grafts to Promote Regeneration in the Transected Nude Rat Spinal Cord , 1997, Experimental Neurology.

[12]  R. Sidman,et al.  Peripheral nerve regeneration with entubulation repair: Comparison of biodegradeable nerve guides versus polyethylene tubes and the effects of a laminin-containing gel , 1987, Experimental Neurology.

[13]  H. Vaudry,et al.  Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor and α‐melanocytic stimulating hormone on nerve regeneration through a collagen channel , 1994 .

[14]  Tatsuo Nakamura,et al.  Nerve regeneration across a 25-mm gap bridged by a polyglycolic acid-collagen tube: a histological and electrophysiological evaluation of regenerated nerves , 1996, Brain Research.

[15]  U. Egert,et al.  Graded distribution of the neural 2A10 antigen in the developing chicken retina. , 1993, Brain research. Developmental brain research.

[16]  M. May.  Trauma to the facial nerve. , 1983, Otolaryngologic clinics of North America.