Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: Current Status and New Strategies Using Polymeric Materials.
Experiments concerning peripheral nerve regeneration have been reported since the end of the 19thcentury. The need to implement an effective surgical procedure in terms of functional recovery has resulted in the appearance of several approaches to solve this problem. Nerve autograft was the first approach studied and is still considered the gold standard. Since autografts require donor harvesting, other strategies involving the use of natural materials have also been studied. Nevertheless, the results were not very encouraging and attention has moved towards the use of nerve conduits made from polymers, whose properties can be easily tailored and which allow the nerve conduit to be easily processed into a variety of shapes and forms. Some of these materials are already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as is presented here. Furthermore, polymers with conductive properties have very recently been subject to intensive study in this field, since it is believed that such properties have a positive influence in the regeneration of the new axons. This manuscript intends to give a global view of the mechanisms involved in peripheral nerve regeneration and the main strategies used to recover motor and sensorial function of injured nerves.
CEMUC Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima-Pólo II, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal.
Ana C
AC
Pinho
CEMUC Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima-Pólo II, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal.
Ana C
AC
Fonseca
CEMUC Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima-Pólo II, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal.
Arménio C
AC
Serra
CEMUC Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
José D
JD
Santos
CEMUC Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima-Pólo II, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal.
Jorge F J
JF
Coelho
D000818:Animals; D064592:Autografts / Q000187:drug effects; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects*; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers
nerve guides; peripheral nerves; polymers; regeneration