Journal
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
Volume 223, Issue 1, Pages 86-101Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2009.09.009
Keywords
Contact guidance; Peripheral nerve regeneration; Neural tissue engineering; Electrospinning; Biochemicals; Topographical cues; Polymers; Cells; Gene therapy; ECM molecules; Proteins
Categories
Funding
- Nanyang Technological University
- AcRF Tier 1 Fund [RG36/07]
- National Science Foundation [DMR-0748340]
- Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund [2007-MSCRFE-0186-01]
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Artificial nerve guide conduits have the advantage over autografts in terms of their availability and ease of fabrication. However, clinical outcomes associated with the use of artificial nerve conduits are often inferior to that of autografts, particularly over long lesion gaps. There have been significant advances in the designs of artificial nerve conduits over the years. In terms of materials selection and design, a wide variety of new synthetic polymers and biopolymers have been evaluated. The inclusion of nerve conduit lumen fillers has also been demonstrated as essential to enable nerve regeneration across large defect gaps. These lumen filler designs have involved the integration of physical cues for contact guidance and biochemical signals to control cellular function and differentiation. Novel conduit architectural designs using porous and fibrous substrates have also been developed. This review highlights the recent advances in synthetic nerve guide designs for peripheral nerve regeneration, and the in vivo applicability and future prospects of these nerve guide conduits. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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