[Advance in fabrication of artificial nerve].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the advance in physical materials, chemical matrix, and biological seed cells for fabricating artificial nerve.


METHODS
Recent literature relevant to artificial nerve, especially the achievement in physical material, chemical matrix and biological seed cells for fabricating artificial nerve, were extensively reviewed.


RESULTS
Polymers of polylactic acid or polyglycolic acid and their polymer, polymer of hyaluronic acid and glutaldehyde, polymer of polyacrylonitrile and polyvinylchloride were artificial nerve materials with the properties of good biocompatibility and biodegradation. A conduit with multichannel and high percentage of pores was beneficial to the regeneration of nerve. The activated Schwann cells were excellent seeds of artificial nerve. A suitable chemical matrix, such as laminin and alginate, could promote the regeneration of nerve.


CONCLUSIONS
The successful fabrication of artificial nerve lies in the advance in the mechanism of nerve regeneration and physical material, chemical matrix and biological seed cells.
He
Jiyin
J
Huashan Hospital of Medical Faculty, Shanghai Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, P. R. China.
Lao
Jie
J
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000737:chemistry; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009417:Nerve Tissue; D012583:Schwann Cells; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D007797:Laminin