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Fascicular rearrangement of an injured peripheral nerve requires reconnection of nerve sprouts from anterior and Büngner bands from distal sides of the lesion, failing to which leads to inefficient regeneration of the injured nerve. However, existing neural scaffolds have limited neuroregeneration efficiency because of either the lack of alignment of fibers and a conductive second phase, leading to compromised electrical conductivity, or the lack of extracellular matrix components and in vivo validation. The present study reports a biocompatible, multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced, anisotropically conductive, electrospun, aligned nanofibrous scaffold, ensuring maximal peripheral nerve regeneration. Electrospinning parameters were modulated to deposit random and parallel fibers in separate scaffolds for comparative analysis on the effect of fiber alignment on regeneration. Both types of scaffolds were reinforced with MWCNTs to impart electrical conductivity. Nonreinforced scaffolds were nonconductive. In this comparative study, MWCNT-reinforced, aligned scaffolds showed better tensile property with increased conductivity along the direction of alignment, thereby ensuring an escalated neural-regeneration rate. Collectively, in vitro studies established the scaffolds to be highly biocompatible, promoting cell growth and proliferation. With 85% more anisotropic conductivity in the direction of the alignment and the degradation kinetics tuned to the regeneration regime, the MWCNT-reinforced, aligned scaffold efficiently healed injured sciatic nerves in rats within 30 days. Rigorous revivification of the tissue was due to coordinated Wallerian degeneration and expedited guided axonal regeneration. Structural and functional analysis of nerves in vivo showed the aligned, MWCNT-reinforced scaffold to be very efficient in peripheral sciatic nerve regeneration. This study notes the efficacy of the coaxially aligned, MWCNT-reinforced neural scaffold, with a capability of establishing remarkable advancement in the field of peripheral neural regeneration.

BackgroundMulti-factorial etiology exists in pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. The imbalance of anti-oxidant enzymes and dopamine level leads to Parkinsonism. The objective of this study was to assess the protective effect of Spirulina fusiform alone and in combination with amantadine against Parkinsonism effect in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced rat model.MethodsS. fusiform was administered in different groups (500 mg/kg, once daily and twice daily) and a combination of spirulina (500 mg/kg, once daily) with amantadine (20 mg/kg once daily) for 30 days before and 14 days after a single injection of 6-OHDA into the dorsal striatum. Post lesion produced rotational behavior which was measured at two week intervals (37th and 44th day). Locomotors activity was also done at 44th and muscle coordination at 48th day. Dorsal striatum was isolated from rat brain for evaluating the antioxidant assays and dopamine content at 49th day.ResultsBoth the body rotations (ipsilateral and contralateral) were found to have a statistically significant (p < 0.001) decrease by 34.26 and 52 % after treatment with spirulina (Twice a day) in spirulina treated lesioned group. A higher percentage of improvement was shown in the reduction of ipsilateral (57.34 %) and contralateral (78.3 %) rotations in combination of spirulina with amantadine treated lesioned group rather than spirulina alone treated lesioned groups when compared with positive control lesioned group. Body movements and locomotor activity were improved statistically (p < 0.0001) significant in both treated lesioned groups (Combination of spirulina with amantadine and spirulina twice daily). Similar results were also seen in anti-oxidant levels which later on reached to the normal value. The levels of dopamine content had a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) increase by 78.3 % only in case of spirulina with amantadine treated lesioned group.ConclusionSpirulina is a potent nutraceutical supplement all over the world, so my preclinical study may contribute to give an additional adjuvant drug therapy in aging related disorders (Neurodegenerative as well as diabetes associated neurodegenerative disorders).Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12906-015-0815-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.