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GDNF blended chitosan nerve guides: An in vivo study
Author(s) -
Patel Minal,
Mao Li,
Wu Bin,
VandeVord Pamela
Publication year - 2009
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.32072
Subject(s) - glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor , nerve guidance conduit , regeneration (biology) , sciatic nerve , axon , chitosan , epineurial repair , laminin , neurotrophic factors , peripheral nerve , in vivo , peripheral nerve injury , nerve injury , materials science , biomedical engineering , medicine , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , surgery , biology , extracellular matrix , biochemistry , receptor
Abstract Chitosan nerve guides are currently being utilized to repair damaged or injured peripheral nerves. To enhance the nerve regeneration process, instead of using the material alone, researchers are focusing on blending different proteins or molecules with chitosan to facilitate nerve repair and regeneration. In our study, we have blended chitosan with glial cell‐line derived neurotrophic factor and laminin within our nerve guides (GLC). The rat sciatic nerve injury model was used to test these nerve guides and histologically evaluated at 6, 9, and 12 weeks. Histologically at 6 weeks, the axon area and myelination are significantly higher in the GLC group compared with the controls. However, at 9 and 12 weeks control groups matched the GLC values. Thus the histological results indicate that GLC nerve guides can enhance the nerve regeneration process during the initial stages of nerve repair. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2009