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Using nerve guide conduits (NGCs) to promote the regeneration of PNI is a feasible alternative to autograft. Compared with NGCs made of single material, composite NGCs have a greater development prospect. Our previous research has confirmed that poly(D, L-lactic acid)/ β -tricalcium phosphate/hyaluronic acid/chitosan/nerve growth factor (PDLLA/ β -TCP/HA/CHS/NGF) NGCs have excellent physical and chemical properties, which can slowly release NGF and support cell adhesion and proliferation. In this study, PDLLA/ β -TCP/HA/CHS/NGF NGCs were prepared and used to bridge a 10 mm sciatic nerve defect in 200–250 g Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat to verify the performance of the NGCs in vivo . Substantial improvements in nerve regeneration were observed after using the PDLLA/ β -TCP/HA/CHS/NGF NGCs based on gross post-operation observation, triceps wet weight analysis and nerve histological assessment. In vivo studies illustrate that the PDLLA/ β -TCP/HA/CHS/NGF sustained-release NGCs can effectively promote peripheral nerve regeneration, and the effect is similar to that of autograft.

Defected peripheral nerve regeneration is still a challenge in clinical treatment. Conductive polymers show great potential in nerve tissue engineering because of their electrical property based on bioelectricity in vivo. In this study, conductive composite nerve conduit was synthesized with tetra-aniline and poly-dl-lactic acid. Their properties and the differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma 12 (PC12) cells in vitro stimulated with 200 mV for 1 h were investigated. Different amounts of tetra-aniline (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) were used to synthesize the conduits with different conductivities (0, 0.00625, 0.01, and 0.025 s/m, respectively), tensile strengths (2.45, 3.40, 4.45, and 5.50 MPa, respectively), and contact angles (80°, 78.5°, 62.5°, and 61.5°, respectively). The percentage of neurite-bearing cells and the median neurite length increased with an obvious raise of the content of tetra-aniline. In addition, the conduit with subcutaneous implantable experiments in vivo showed less inflammatory response. These promising results illustrated that this poly-dl-lactic acid/tetra-aniline conductive composite conduit had potential for nerve tissue engineering.

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