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Polybutylene succinate artificial scaffold for peripheral nerve regeneration
Author(s) -
Cicero Luca,
Licciardi Mariano,
Cirincione Roberta,
Puleio Roberto,
Giammona Gaetano,
Giglia Giuseppe,
Sardo Pierangelo,
Edoardo Vigni Giulio,
Cioffi Alessio,
Sanfilippo Antonino,
Cassata Giovanni
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.34896
Subject(s) - regeneration (biology) , scaffold , sciatic nerve , biomedical engineering , nerve guidance conduit , context (archaeology) , tissue engineering , anatomy , in vivo , peripheral nerve , materials science , chemistry , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , paleontology
Regeneration and recovery of nerve tissues are a great challenge for medicine, and positively affect the quality of life of patients. The development of tissue engineering offers a new approach to the problem with the creation of multifunctional artificial scaffolds that act on various levels in the damaged tissue, providing physical and biochemical support for the growth of nerve cells. In this study, the effects of the use of a tubular scaffold made of polybutylene succinate (PBS), surgically positioned at the level of a sciatic nerve injured in rat, between the proximal stump and the distal one, was investigated. Scaffolds characterization was carried out by scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray microcomputed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, in vivo. The demonstration of the nerve regeneration was based on the evaluation of electroneurography, measuring the weight of gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles, histological examination of regenerated nerves and observing the recovery of the locomotor activity of animals. The PBS tubular scaffold minimized iatrogenic trauma on the nerve, acting as a directional guide for the regenerating fibers by conveying them toward the distal stump. In this context, neurotrophic and neurotropic factors may accumulate and perform their functions, while invasion by macrophages and scar tissue is hampered.