Journal
SCIENCE OF ADVANCED MATERIALS
Volume 13, Issue 4, Pages 530-536Publisher
AMER SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHERS
DOI: 10.1166/sam.2021.3963
Keywords
Peripheral Nerve Injury; Peripheral Nerve Gap; Peripheral Nerve Regeneration; Nerve Graft; Nerve Conduit; Biomaterials
Funding
- Central Laboratory of the First Hospital of Jilin University-the Eastern Division
- Department of Pathology of the First Hospital of Jilin University-the Eastern Division
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Peripheral nerves have intrinsic regeneration abilities after injury, with a limit distance for spontaneous regeneration. Nerve autografts are the primary method for bridging nerve gaps, while insufficient vascularization may hinder nerve conduit bridging longer gaps. Future research could focus on enhancing angiogenesis in nerve conduits using advanced biomaterials.
Peripheral nerves have complex and precise structures that differ from other types of tissues and intrinsic regeneration abilities after injury. Spontaneous recovery is possible for neuropraxia and axonotmesis, while surgical treatment is required for neurotmesis. It remains a challenge to repair nerve gaps, a series of severe neurotmesis. It seems that 3 cm is the upper limit distance for primate peripheral nerves to regenerate spontaneously. Nerve autografts are the gold standard treatment for bridging nerve gaps. In the present review, current biomaterials for repairing gaps after peripheral nerve injury are briefly summarized. Moreover, the microstructure of the peripheral nerve, classifications of peripheral nerve injury, and the Wallerian degeneration are reviewed in the biological view and clinical practice. The failure of nerve regeneration in nerve conduits bridging longer than 3 cm gaps may be contributing to the insufficient vascularization of nerve conduit materials. Future researchers could focus on advanced biomaterials that promoting the angiogenesis of nerve conduits.
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