Evaluation of two biodegradable nerve guides for the reconstruction of the rat sciatic nerve

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2007

Authors

Ana L Luis (Author) ICBAS; Jorge M Rodrigues (Author) FMUP; Jose V Lobato (Author) Other; Maria A Lopes (Author) FEUP; Sandra Amado (Author) Other; Antonio P Veloso (Author) Other; Paulo A S Armada da Silva (Author) Other; Stefania Raimondo (Author) Other; Stefano Geuna (Author) Other; Antonio J Ferreira (Author) Other; Artur S P Varejao (Author) Other; Jose D Santos (Author) FEUP; Ana C Mauricio (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering

Vol. 17

Pages: 39-52

ISSN: 0959-2989

Publisher: IOS PRESS

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 27 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 30 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Environmental biotechnology

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Technology > Medical technology > Biomedical materials

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-CKN

Abstract (EN): The purpose of this study was to test in vivo two different nerve guides, one of PLGA made of a novel proportion (90:10) of the two polymers, Poly(L-lactide):Poly(glycolide), with (DL-lactide-epsilon-caprolactone) copolyester (Neurolac((R))) tube, in promoting nerve regeneration across a 10 mm-gap of the rat sciatic nerve. Finally, end-to-end coaptation was performed. Motor and sensory functional recovery was assessed throughout the healing period of 20 weeks and the repaired nerves were processed for morphological analysis. Both motor and sensory functions improved significantly in all experimental nerve repair groups, although the rate and extent of recovery was significantly higher in the end-to-end group. No significant differences were detected in the comparison between the two types of tubes. Compatible with results of functional tests, morphological analysis showed that axon regeneration occurred in both PLGA and Neurolac((R)) experimental groups but disclosed a different pattern of degradation of the two types of tubes with larger biodegradation of PLGA material by the end of 20 weeks. These results suggest that both types of biomaterial are a good substrate for preparing tubular nerve guides and the different pattern of degradation does not seem to influence the degree of nerve regeneration.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 14