title: Sciatic nerve repair by reinforced nerve conduits made of gelatin-tricalcium phosphate composites.
abstract: This study proposes a biodegradable GGT composite nerve guide conduit containing genipin-cross-linked gelatin and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramic particles in peripheral nerve regeneration. The proposed genipin-cross-linked gelatin annexed with TCP ceramic particles (GGT) conduit was dark bluish and round with a rough and compact surface. Water uptake and swelling tests indicated that the hydrated GGT conduit exhibited increased stability with not collapsing or stenosis. The GGT conduit had higher mechanical properties than the genipin-cross-linked gelatin without TCP ceramic particles (GG) conduit and served as a better nerve guide conduit. Cytotoxicity tests revealed that the GGT conduit was not toxic and that it promoted the viability and growth of neural stem cells. The experiments in this study confirmed the effectiveness of the GGT conduit as a guidance channel for repairing a 10-mm gap in rat sciatic nerve. Walking track analysis showed a significantly higher sciatic function index score and better toe spreading development in the GGT group than in the silicone group 8 weeks after implantation. Gross examination revealed that the diameter of the intratubular newly formed nerve fibers in GGT conduits exceeded those in silicone tubes after the implantation period. Histological observations revealed that the morphology and distribution patterns of nerve fibers in the GGT conduits at 8 weeks after implantation were similar to those of normal nerves. The quantitative results indicated the superiority of the conduits over the silicone tubes. Motor functional and histomorphometric assessments demonstrate that the proposed GGT conduit is a suitable candidate for peripheral nerve repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi-Chin
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chiung-Chyi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Hsu-Chen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Bai-Shuan
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002452:Cell Count; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005780:Gelatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D057889:Iridoid Glycosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D039823:Iridoids; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D016138:Walking; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D057889:Iridoid Glycosides; D039823:Iridoids; D005780:Gelatin; C007834:genipin; C018392:tricalcium phosphate