title: The effect of aligned core-shell nanofibres delivering NGF on the promotion of sciatic nerve regeneration.
abstract: Recent bioengineering strategies for peripheral nerve regeneration have been focusing on the development of alternative treatments for nerve repair. In this study, we incorporated nerve growth factor (NGF) into aligned core-shell nanofibres by coaxial electrospinning, and reeled  the scaffold into aligned fibrous nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) for nerve regeneration study. This aligned PLGA/NGF NGC combined physical guidance cues and biomolecular signals to closely mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM). The effect of this aligned PLGA/NGF NGC on the promotion  of nerve regeneration was evaluated in a 13-mm rat sciatic nerve defect using functional and morphological analysis. After 12 weeks implantation, the results of electrophysiological and muscle weight examination demonstrated that the functional recovery of the regenerated nerve in the PLGA/NGF  NGC group was significantly better than that in the PLGA group, yet had no significant difference compared with the autograft group. The toluidine blue staining study showed that more nerve fibres were regenerated in the PLGA/NGF group, while the electron microscopy study indicated that the  regenerated nerve in the PLGA/NGF group was more mature than that in the PLGA group. This study demonstrated that the aligned PLGA/NGF could greatly promote peripheral nerve regeneration and have a potential application in nerve regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, JiaoTong University, 600 YiShan Road, Shanghai 200233, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Chun-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun-Jian
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Cun-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xiu-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.forename: Hong-Jiang
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Feng-Feng
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D013193:Stainless Steel; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor