title: Biological and electrophysiologic effects of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) on regenerating peripheral nerve fibers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Uninjured peripheral nerves in upper-limb amputees represent attractive sites for connectivity with neuroprostheses because their predictable internal topography allows for precise sorting of motor and sensory signals. The inclusion of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) reduces impedance and improves charge transfer at the biotic-abiotic interface. This study evaluates the in vivo performance of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-coated interpositional decellularized nerve grafts across a critical nerve conduction gap, and examines the long-term effects of two different poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) formulations on regenerating peripheral nerve fibers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 48 rats, a 15-mm gap in the common peroneal nerve was repaired using a nerve graft of equivalent length, including (1) decellularized nerve chemically polymerized with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (dry); (2) decellularized nerve electrochemically polymerized with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (wet); (3) intact nerve; (4) autogenous nerve graft; (5) decellularized nerve alone; and (6) unrepaired nerve gap controls. All groups underwent electrophysiologic characterization at 3 months, and nerves were harvested for histomorphometric analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Conduction velocity was significantly faster in the dry poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) group compared with the sham, decellularized nerve, and wet poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) groups. Maximum specific force for the dry poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) group was more similar to sham than were decellularized nerve controls. Evident neural regeneration was demonstrated in both dry and wet poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) groups by the presence of normal regenerating axons on histologic cross-section.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) formulations were compatible with peripheral nerve regeneration at 3 months. This study supports poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) as a promising adjunct for peripheral nerve interfaces for prosthetic control and other biomedical applications because of its recognized ionic-to-electronic coupling potential.
authors.affiliation: Charleston, S.C.; Ann Arbor and Detroit, Mich.; Incheon, South Korea; and Newark, Del. From the Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina; the Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan; the Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital-Wayne State University; the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Inha University; and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware.
authors.forename: Ziya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Baghmanli
authors.forename: Kristoffer B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Sugg
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Bong S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Cederna
authors.forename: Melanie G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Urbanchek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D011108:Polymers; C121383:poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)
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