In vivo evaluation of polysialic acid as part of tissue-engineered nerve transplants.
With the aim to develop new biomaterials for peripheral nerve grafts, the current study used bioidentical polysialic acid (polySia) as complement in synthetic conduits. polySia provides an important guidance cue during nervous system development and regeneration. First in vivo results on the use of cell-free and Schwann cell-containing synthetic peripheral nerve grafts complemented with soluble exogenous K1-polySia are presented. Reconstructing 10&#x2009;mm rat sciatic nerve gaps, K1-polySia complementation significantly improved structural nerve regeneration in comparison to cell-free and K1-polySia-free grafts. Subsequently, long nerve gaps (13&#x2009;mm) were reconstructed by Schwann cell transplants plus K1-polySia and compared to nerve autotransplantation. Structural but also functional regeneration could be observed using K1-polySia transplants; however, autotransplantation was still significantly more successful. Overall, the current study demonstrates that exogenous K1-polySia has no negative but rather regeneration promoting effects. This is important novel evidence on the applicability of exogenous polySia in vivo. Further studies are required to develop solid three-dimensional polySia-based scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering. Biocompatible and assessable biodegrading materials will ensure long-lasting presence of polySia to allow its applicability and prolonged efficacy in the slow regenerating scenario of human peripheral nerve reconstruction.
Haastert-Talini
Kirsten
K
Institute of Neuroanatomy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. haastert.kirsten@mh-hannover.de
Schaper-Rinkel
Janett
J
Schmitte
Ruth
R
Bastian
Rode
R
Mühlenhoff
Martina
M
Schwarzer
David
D
Draeger
Gerald
G
Su
Yi
Y
Scheper
Thomas
T
Gerardy-Schahn
Rita
R
Grothe
Claudia
C
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012794:Sialic Acids; C021319:polysialic acid