In vivo evaluation of a biodegradable EDC/NHS-cross-linked gelatin peripheral nerve guide conduit material.
Peripheral nerve regeneration has been evaluated using a biodegradable nerve conduit, which is made of a 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) cross-linked gelatin. The EDC/NHS crosslinked gelatin (ENG) conduit is brownish in appearance, and is concentric and round with a smooth outer surface and inner lumen. After subcutaneous implantation on the dorsal side of a rat, the degraded ENG conduit only evoked a mild tissue response, with the formation of a thin tissue capsule surrounding the conduit. Biodegradability of the ENG conduit and its effectiveness as a guidance channel has been examined by its use to repair a 10 mm gap in the rat sciatic nerve. As a result, the tubes degraded throughout the implantation period, but still remained circular with a thin round lumen until they were completely integrated with the enclosed nerves. Successful regeneration through the gap occurred in all the conduits over the three experimental periods of 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Histological observation showed that numerous myelinated axons had crossed through the gap region even at the shortest implantation period of 4 weeks. Peak amplitude, area under the muscle action potential curve, and nerve conductive velocity all showed an increase as a function of the recovery period, which indicates that the nerve had undergone adequate regeneration. These results indicate the superiority of the ENG materials and suggest that the novel ENG conduits provide a promising tool for neuro-regeneration.
Chang
Ju-Ying
JY
Laboratory of Biomaterials, Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Lin
Jia-Horng
JH
Yao
Chun-Hsu
CH
Chen
Jiunn-Horng
JH
Lai
Tung-Yuan
TY
Chen
Yueh-Sheng
YS
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D005022:Ethyldimethylaminopropyl Carbodiimide / Q000737:chemistry; D005780:Gelatin / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve; D013388:Succinimides / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D013388:Succinimides; D005780:Gelatin; C001426:N-hydroxysuccinimide; D005022:Ethyldimethylaminopropyl Carbodiimide