title: A novel electrospun nerve conduit enhanced by carbon nanotubes for peripheral nerve regeneration.
abstract: For artificial nerve conduits, great improvements have been achieved in mimicking the structures and components of autologous nerves. However, there are still some problems in conduit construction, especially in terms of mechanical properties, biomimetic surface tomography, electrical conductivity and sustained release of neurotrophic factors or cells. In this study, we designed and fabricated a novel electrospun nerve conduit enhanced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on the basis of a collagen/poly(ε-caprolactone) (collagen/PCL) fibrous scaffold. Our aim was to provide further knowledge about the mechanical effects and efficacy of MWNTs on nerve conduits as well as the biocompatibility and toxicology of MWNTs when applied in vivo.The results showed that as one component, carboxyl MWNTs could greatly alter the composite scaffold's hydrophilicity, mechanical properties and degradability. The electrospun fibers enhanced by MWNTs could support Schwann cell adhesion and elongation as a substrate in vitro. In vivo animal studies demonstrated that the MWNT-enhanced collagen/PCL conduit could effectively promote nerve regeneration of sciatic nerve defect in rats and prevent muscle atrophy without invoking body rejection or serious chronic inflammation. All of these results showed that this MWNT-enhanced scaffold possesses good biocompatibility and MWNTs might be excellent candidates as engineered nanocarriers for further neurotrophic factor delivery research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xinquan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Dongxia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xiuli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Zhiyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D011091:Polyesters; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone