title: In vivo studies of silk based gold nano-composite conduits for functional peripheral nerve regeneration.
abstract: We report a novel silk-gold nanocomposite based nerve conduit successfully tested in a neurotmesis grade sciatic nerve injury model in rats over a period of eighteen months. The conduit was fabricated by adsorbing gold nanoparticles onto silk fibres and transforming them into a nanocomposite sheet by electrospinning which is finally given a tubular structure by rolling on a stainless steel mandrel of chosen diameter. The conduits were found to promote adhesion and proliferation of Schwann cells in vitro and did not elicit any toxic or immunogenic responses in vivo. We also report for the first time, the monitoring of muscular regeneration post nerve conduit implantation by recording motor unit potentials (MUPs) through needle electromyogram. Pre-seeding the conduits with Schwann cells enhanced myelination of the regenerated tissue. Histo-morphometric and electrophysiological studies proved that the nanocomposite based conduits pre-seeded with Schwann cells performed best in terms of structural and functional regeneration of severed sciatic nerves. The near normal values of nerve conduction velocity (50 m/sec), compound muscle action potential (29.7 mV) and motor unit potential (133 μV) exhibited by the animals implanted with Schwann cell loaded nerve conduits in the present study are superior to those observed in previous reports with synthetic materials as well as collagen based nerve conduits. Animals in this group were also able to perform complex locomotory activities like stretching and jumping with excellent sciatic function index (SFI) and led a normal life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Suradip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Manav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Saharia's Path Lab & Blood Bank, Guwahati 781005, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Dhiren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saharia
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Khanapara, Guwahati 781022, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Kushal Konwar
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.affiliation: Nemcare Hospital, Guwahati 781005, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Monalisa Goswami
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Gopinathnagar, Guwahati 781016, Assam, India; Mugagen Laboratories Private Limited, Technology Incubation Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Bibhuti Bhusan
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Borthakur
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India; Mugagen Laboratories Private Limited, Technology Incubation Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India. Electronic address: ubora@iitg.ernet.in.
authors.forename: Utpal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bora
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008422:Materials Testing; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D047011:Silk; D006046:Gold
keywords: Gold nanoparticle; Nanocomposite; Nerve conduit; Peripheral nerve; Regeneration; Silk fibroin