Nerve guides manufactured from photocurable polymers to aid peripheral nerve repair.
The peripheral nervous system has a limited innate capacity for self-repair following injury, and surgical intervention is often required. For injuries greater than a few millimeters autografting is standard practice although it is associated with donor site morbidity and is limited in its availability. Because of this, nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) can be viewed as an advantageous alternative, but currently have limited efficacy for short and large injury gaps in comparison to autograft. Current commercially available NGC designs rely on existing regulatory approved materials and traditional production methods, limiting improvement of their design. The aim of this study was to establish a novel method for NGC manufacture using a custom built laser-based microstereolithography (μSL) setup that incorporated a 405 nm laser source to produce 3D constructs with ∼ 50 μm resolution from a photocurable poly(ethylene glycol) resin. These were evaluated by SEM, in vitro neuronal, Schwann and dorsal root ganglion culture and in vivo using a thy-1-YFP-H mouse common fibular nerve injury model. NGCs with dimensions of 1 mm internal diameter × 5 mm length with a wall thickness of 250 μm were fabricated and capable of supporting re-innervation across a 3 mm injury gap after 21 days, with results close to that of an autograft control. The study provides a technology platform for the rapid microfabrication of biocompatible materials, a novel method for in vivo evaluation, and a benchmark for future development in more advanced NGC designs, biodegradable and larger device sizes, and longer-term implantation studies.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, Broad Lane, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK.
Christopher J
CJ
Pateman
Integrated Biosciences Group, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, UK.
Adam J
AJ
Harding
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, Broad Lane, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK.
Adam
A
Glen
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, Broad Lane, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK.
Caroline S
CS
Taylor
Integrated Biosciences Group, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, UK.
Claire R
CR
Christmas
Integrated Biosciences Group, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, UK.
Peter P
PP
Robinson
Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Steve
S
Rimmer
Integrated Biosciences Group, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, UK. Electronic address: f.boissonade@sheffield.ac.uk.
Fiona M
FM
Boissonade
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, Broad Lane, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK. Electronic address: f.claeyssens@sheffield.ac.uk.
Frederik
F
Claeyssens
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, Broad Lane, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK. Electronic address: j.w.haycock@sheffield.ac.uk.
John W
JW
Haycock
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019245:Compressive Strength; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011327:Printing; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D051381:Rats; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
Microstructure; Nerve guide; Nerve regeneration; Nerve tissue engineering; Neural cell; Schwann cell