Peripheral nerve regeneration through guidance tubes.
Biological nerve grafts have been extensively utilized in the past to repair peripheral nerve injuries. More recently, the use of synthetic guidance tubes in repairing these injuries has gained in popularity. This review focuses on artificial conduits, nerve regeneration through them, and an account of various synthetic materials that comprise these tubes in experimental animal and clinical trials. It also lists and describes several biomaterial considerations one should regard when designing, developing, and manufacturing potential guidance channel candidates. In the future, it it likely that the most successful synthetic nerve conduit will be one that has been fabricated with some of these strategies in mind.
Belkas
Jason S
JS
Division of Neurosurgery, Neuroscience Research Program, Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, ON, Canada.
Shoichet
Molly S
MS
Midha
Rajiv
R
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D019737:Transplants / Q000009:adverse effects
D001672:Biocompatible Materials