Implantable Nerve Conduit Made of a Self-Powered Microneedle Patch for Sciatic Nerve Repair

Peripheral nerve defects, particularly those of a larger size, pose a significant challenge in clinical practice due to their limited regenerative capacity. To tackle this challenge, an advanced self-powered enzyme-linked microneedle (MN) nerve conduit is designed and fabricated. This innovative conduit is composed of anodic and cathodic MN arrays, which contain glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) encapsulated in ZIF-8 nanoparticles, respectively. Through an enzymatic cascade reaction, this MN nerve conduit generates microcurrents that stimulate the regeneration of muscles, blood vessels, and nerve fibers innervated by the sciatic nerve, eventually accelerating the repair of sciatic nerve injury. It is clear that this self-powered MN nerve conduit will revolutionize traditional treatment methods for sciatic nerve injury and find widespread application in the field of nerve tissue repair.

Automated summary

An advanced self-powered enzyme-linked microneedle (MN) nerve conduit is developed to address the challenge of peripheral nerve defects. This innovative conduit consists of anodic and cathodic MN arrays, which encapsulate glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in ZIF-8 nanoparticles, respectively. Through an enzymatic cascade reaction, the MN nerve conduit generates microcurrents to stimulate regeneration of muscles, blood vessels, and nerve fibers, accelerating the repair of sciatic nerve injury. This self-powered MN nerve conduit is expected to revolutionize traditional treatment methods and find wide application in nerve tissue repair.