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Influences of mechanical properties and permeability on chitosan nano/microfiber mesh tubes as a scaffold for nerve regeneration
Author(s) -
Wang Wei,
Itoh Soichiro,
Matsuda Atsushi,
Ichinose Shizuko,
Shinomiya Kenichi,
Hata Yuiro,
Tanaka Junzo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.31536
Subject(s) - microfiber , materials science , scaffold , chitosan , regeneration (biology) , permeability (electromagnetism) , composite material , nano , biomedical engineering , chemical engineering , membrane , engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , genetics
We have developed chitosan nonwoven micro/nanofiber mesh tubes and examined the effects of their mechanical strength and permeability on nerve regeneration. Chitosan nano/microfibrous tubes with a deacetylation rate (DAc) of 78% or 93% were prepared by electrospinning. A chitosan film tube with a DAc of 93% was also fabricated and combined with the nano/microfibrous tubes to form bilayered tubes with a nano/microfiber mesh inner structure and a film outer layer. Nano/microfiber mesh tubes with a DAc of 78% or 93%, bilayered tubes with a nano/microfiber mesh inner structure with a DAc of 78% or 93% and a film outer layer with a DAc of 93%, and film tubes with a DAc of 93% were each tested as bridge grafts into injured rat sciatic nerve. Isografting was performed as a control. Although the functional recovery of motor activity was delayed in each group, sensory function reemerged first in the isograft group followed by the group receiving nano/microfiber mesh tubes with a DAc of 93%. Histological analysis was consistent with these results. The chitosan nano/microfiber mesh tubes with a DAc of 93% have sufficient mechanical properties to preserve tube space, provide a better scaffold for cell migration and attachment, and facilitate humoral permeation to enhance nerve regeneration. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008