Peripheral Nerve Repair By Peptide Amphiphile Nanofibers.
Better mimic the native architecture of peripheral nerveAllows repair of longer nerve gapsNo longer need donor nerves
Replacing nerve graft for peripheral nerve reconstruction
Researchers at UCLA have developed a novel method that significantly enhances directed nerve growth and peripheral nerve regeneration using peptide amphiphile (PA) nanofibers. PAs are molecules that can self-assemble into nanofibers, which can be aligned to mimic the native architecture of peripheral nerve. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated excellent proliferation of Schwann cells along aligned PA fibers. These Schwann cells provide direct and indirect support to regenerating nerve fibers by secreting a variety of growth factors, and these cells play an important role in the successful axonal regeneration of the peripheral nerve gap. Additional in vivo experiments using a nerve conduit filled with PA nanofibers have also shown success in bridging in peripheral nerve repair model. Animals treated with conduit PA constructs revealed comparable recovery of motor and sensory function to animals treated with autologous nerve grafts.
20170021056
State Of Development Successfully tested in vivo with rat sciatic nerve defects model. Background The peripheral nerves consist of an extensive network of nerves that coordinates communication of the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. Peripheral nerve injury may result in demyelination and/or axonal degeneration, which cause disruption of sensory function and/or motor function in the injured nerve. Peripheral nerve injuries that induce gaps larger than 1-2 cm require bridging strategies for repair. However, the bridging of peripheral nerve gaps remains a difficult challenge for the reconstructive microsurgeon. Direct end-to-end repair can only bridge short nerve gaps to avoid excessive tension in the repair. Longer nerve gaps can be repaired with autologous nerve grafts, but their sacrifice leads to loss of function in the area where the donor nerve once functioned. Nerve conduits merely provide gross mechanical support and protection for severed nerve ends, offering no internal scaffold along which cells can attach and proliferate. Acellular cadaveric nerve allograft, while providing native scaffold, comes with the risk of disease transmission, as with any allogenic tissue. Moreover, their efficacy decreases with increasing nerve gap length. Related Materials Tech ID/UC Case 27584/2015-676-0 Related Cases 2015-676-0
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