title: The efficacy of a scaffold-free Bio 3D conduit developed from human fibroblasts on peripheral nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although autologous nerve grafting is the gold standard treatment of peripheral nerve injuries, several alternative methods have been developed, including nerve conduits that use supportive cells. However, the seeding efficacy and viability of supportive cells injected in nerve grafts remain unclear. Here, we focused on a novel completely biological, tissue-engineered, scaffold-free conduit.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed six scaffold-free conduits from human normal dermal fibroblasts using a Bio 3D Printer. Twelve adult male rats with immune deficiency underwent mid-thigh-level transection of the right sciatic nerve. The resulting 5-mm nerve gap was bridged using 8-mm Bio 3D conduits (Bio 3D group, n = 6) and silicone tube (silicone group, n = 6). Several assessments were conducted to examine nerve regeneration eight weeks post-surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kinematic analysis revealed that the toe angle to the metatarsal bone at the final segment of the swing phase was significantly higher in the Bio 3D group than the silicone group (-35.78 ± 10.68 versus -62.48 ± 6.15, respectively; p < 0.01). Electrophysiological studies revealed significantly higher compound muscle action potential in the Bio 3D group than the silicone group (53.60 ± 26.36% versus 2.93 ± 1.84%; p < 0.01). Histological and morphological studies revealed neural cell expression in all regions of the regenerated nerves and the presence of many well-myelinated axons in the Bio 3D group. The wet muscle weight of the tibialis anterior muscle was significantly higher in the Bio 3D group than the silicone group (0.544 ± 0.063 versus 0.396 ± 0.031, respectively; p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirmed that scaffold-free Bio 3D conduits composed entirely of fibroblast cells promote nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yurie
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ikeguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Iseikai Yawata Chuo Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukitoshi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaizawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tajino
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Souichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisataka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.affiliation: Cyfuse Biomedical K. K., Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shizuka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akieda
authors.affiliation: Cyfuse Biomedical K. K., Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Manami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.affiliation: Department of Regenerative Medicine and Biomedical Engineering Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsuda
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009929:Organ Size; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011923:Rats, Nude; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012828:Silicones; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones