title: Decellularisation and histological characterisation of porcine peripheral nerves.
abstract: Peripheral nerve injuries affect a large proportion of the global population, often causing significant morbidity and loss of function. Current treatment strategies include the use of implantable nerve guide conduits (NGC's) to direct regenerating axons between the proximal and distal ends of the nerve gap. However, NGC's are limited in their effectiveness at promoting regeneration Current NGCs are not suitable as substrates for supporting either neuronal or Schwann cell growth, as they lack an architecture similar to that of the native extracellular matrix (ECM) of the nerve. The aim of this study was to create an acellular porcine peripheral nerve using a novel decellularisation protocol, in order to eliminate the immunogenic cellular components of the tissue, while preserving the three-dimensional histoarchitecture and ECM components. Porcine peripheral nerve (sciatic branches were decellularised using a low concentration (0.1%; w/v) sodium dodecyl sulphate in conjunction with hypotonic buffers and protease inhibitors, and then sterilised using 0.1% (v/v) peracetic acid. Quantitative and qualitative analysis revealed a ≥95% (w/w) reduction in DNA content as well as preservation of the nerve fascicles and connective tissue. Acellular nerves were shown to have retained key ECM components such as collagen, laminin and fibronectin. Slow strain rate to failure testing demonstrated the biomechanical properties of acellular nerves to be comparable to fresh controls. In conclusion, we report the production of a biocompatible, biomechanically functional acellular scaffold, which may have use in peripheral nerve repair. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2016;113: 2041-2053. © 2016 The Authors. Biotechnology and Bioengineering published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT United Kingdom.|Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT United Kingdom.|Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zilic
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT United Kingdom. s.wilshaw@leeds.ac.uk.|Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT United Kingdom. s.wilshaw@leeds.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Stacy-Paul
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Wilshaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ United Kingdom. j.w.haycock@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Haycock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D012583:Schwann Cells; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials
keywords: Schwann cell; decelluarised; nerve; tissue engineering