Melt-extruded guides for peripheral nerve regeneration. Part I: poly(epsilon-caprolactone).
Melt-extruded guides for peripheral nerve repair based on poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) were realised and their physico-chemical properties were evaluated. Preliminarily, PCL cast films were found to support the attachment and proliferation of Neonatal Olfactory Bulb Ensheating Cells (NOBEC). S5Y5 neuroblastoma cells were cultured inside PCL guides in their uncoated form or coated with a non-specific adhesion protein (gelatin) and a specific peptide for nerve regeneration (poly(L-lysine)). Coating increased cell density (gelatin) and/or the cell density rate on substrates (poly(L-lysine); gelatin) as compared to uncoated guides. Various in vivo tests were carried out for the repair of small (0.5 cm), medium (1.5 cm) and long (4.5 cm) size defects in the peripheral nerves of Wistar rats. For the small nerve defects, uncoated and coated PCL guides were tested. Results from in vivo tests were subjected to histological examination after 45 days, 6 and 8 months postoperative for small, medium and large defects, respectively. Regeneration was found for small and medium size defects. For 0.5 cm defects, the coating did not affect regeneration significantly. Grip-tests also evidenced functional recovery for the 1.5 cm-long defects treated with PCL guides, after 6 months from implantation. On the other hand, mechanical stiffness of PCL conduits impaired the repair of 4.5 cm-long defects in 8-month period: the lack of flexibility of the guide to rat movements caused its detachment from the implant site. The research showed that PCL guides can be used for the successful repair of small and medium size nerve defects, with possible improvements by suitable bio-mimetic coatings.
Chiono
Valeria
V
Department of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Pisa, Via Diotisalvi 2, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Vozzi
Giovanni
G
Vozzi
Federico
F
Salvadori
Claudia
C
Dini
Francesca
F
Carlucci
Fabio
F
Arispici
Mario
M
Burchielli
Silvia
S
Di Scipio
Federica
F
Geuna
Stefano
S
Fornaro
Michele
M
Tos
Pierluigi
P
Nicolino
Silvia
S
Audisio
Chiara
C
Perroteau
Isabelle
I
Chiaravalloti
Adelina
A
Domenici
Claudio
C
Giusti
Paolo
P
Ciardelli
Gianluca
G
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D044367:Phase Transition; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013818:Thermogravimetry
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone