title: Biohybride nerve guide for regeneration: degradable polylactide fibers coated with rat Schwann cells.
abstract: The restricted capacity of the nervous system to regenerate calls for novel therapeutic concepts. We have tested biocompatible polylactide fibers as potential nerve guides that could bridge proximal nerve stumps and synaptic target regions after nerve lesion. Polylactides have the great advantage that they degrade and resorb after completion of regeneration. Material surface properties were optimized three-fold by oxygen plasma treatment, polyanion coating and the seeding of Schwann cells from rat sciatic nerve. Immunocytochemistry and scanning electron microscopy revealed that in vitro axonal outgrowth of dorsal root ganglia on two specifically synthesized lactide polymers can be greatly improved by these surface treatments. The approach aims to develop an 'intelligent neuroprosthesis' that in vivo facilitates directed axonal regrowth in the first place and disappears thereafter.
authors.affiliation: Naturwissenschaftliches und Medizinisches Institut an der Universität Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steuer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fadale
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Planck
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schlosshauer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000502:physiology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009462:Neurology / Q000379:methods*; D011091:Polyesters; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)