title: Development of fibrous biodegradable polymer conduits for guided nerve regeneration.
abstract: The technique of microbraiding with modification was employed as a novel method for the fabrication of fibrous tubular scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering purposes. The biodegradable polymers used in this study were poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (10:90) and chitosan. The polymeric fibers were microbraided around a Teflon mandrel to make it as a tubular construct. The conduits were then studied for their surface morphology, swelling behaviour and biocompatibility. The surface morphology was analysed by scanning electron microscope, swelling behaviour by weight increase due to water uptake and biocompatibility by in vitro cytotoxicity assessment in terms of cell morphology and cell viability by the MTT assay of polymer extract treated cells. These conduits may also be used for regeneration of tissues, which require tubular scaffolds such as blood vessel, spinal cord, intestine etc.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Division, Mechanical Engineering Department, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119260.
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Bini
authors.forename: Shujun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramakrishna
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D048430:Cell Shape; D005347:Fibroblasts; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid