title: Evaluation of a multi-layer microbraided polylactic acid fiber-reinforced conduit for peripheral nerve regeneration.
abstract: We evaluated peripheral nerve regeneration using a biodegradable multi-layer microbraided polylactic acid (PLA) fiber-reinforced conduit. Biodegradability of the PLA conduit and its effectiveness as a guidance channel were examined as it was used to repair a 10 mm gap in the rat sciatic nerve. As a result, tube fragmentation was not obvious and successful regeneration through the gap occurred in all the conduits at 8 weeks after operation. These results indicate the superiority of the PLA materials and suggest that the multi-layer microbraided PLA fiber-reinforced conduits provide a promising tool for neuro-regeneration.
authors.affiliation: School of Post Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. lumc@mail.cmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Ming-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yen-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jia-Horng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chun-Hsu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Ching-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: Chin-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yueh-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)