Implantable nerve guidance conduits: Material combinations, multi-functional strategies and advanced engineering innovations

Abstract

Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) have attracted much attention due to their great necessity and applicability in clinical use for the peripheral nerve repair. Great efforts in recent years have been devoted to the development of high-performance NGCs using various materials and strategies. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of progress in the material innovation, structural design, advanced engineering technologies and multi functionalization of state-of-the-art nerve guidance conduits NGCs. Abundant advanced engineering technologies including extrusion-based system, laser-based system, and novel textile forming techniques in terms of weaving, knitting, braiding, and electrospinning techniques were also analyzed in detail. Findings arising from this review indicate that the structural mimetic NGCs combined with natural and synthetic materials using advanced manufacturing technologies can make full use of their complementary advantages, acquiring better biomechanical properties, chemical stability and biocompatibility. Finally, the existing challenges and future opportunities of NGCs were put forward aiming for further research and applications of NGCs.

Establishment of FK506‐Enriched PLGA Nanomaterial Neural Conduit Produced by Electrospinning for the Repair of Long‐Distance Peripheral Nerve Injury

“…The preparation of neural conduits with excellent performance requires comprehensive consideration of the morphological design, material selection, manufacturing technology, and parameter fine-tuning of the experimental scheme of the conduits to simulate the pipeline microenvironment of nerve regeneration to the greatest extent and promote rapid regeneration and functional control of peripheral nerves [7][8][9]. Nano-micro scaffolds, made by electrostatic spinning technology, have high specific surface area and porosity, which can better simulate the mechanism of the extracellular matrix and provide a good microenvironment for the effective release of neurotrophins and the rapid growth of nerve cells [10,11]. The effectiveness of rolling obtained nerve membranes into hollow, multilayer, tubular, and artificial nerve conduits for PNI has been proven in various studies [12,13].…”

Nanofibrous electroconductive nerve guide conduits based on polyaniline‐co‐polydopamine random copolymer for peripheral nerve regeneration

“…Yang et al 19 reported that modification of carbon microfibrous scaffold with PDA enhanced neural stem cells proliferation and promoted the expression of Ki‐67 and vincristine, a kind of cytoskeleton protein. It has been reported that the application of electroconductive and bioactive NGCs has promising and fascinating results in the regeneration of damaged peripheral nerves 20,21 . Accordingly, in the current study, we synthesized copolymer based on PDA and PANI to integrate the electrical properties of PANI with the biological activities of PDA to fabricate a sophisticated NGC for peripheral nerve regeneration.…”

Translation of biomaterials from bench to clinic

“…A total of 24 articles [ [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] ] are included in this special issue. These articles can be categorized in terms of authors, biomaterials and targeted clinical areas, and article types.…”

“…Several articles in this special issue are on regulatory science and discuss the new standards, tools, and approaches to evaluate the safety, efficacy, quality, and performance of medical products [ 10 , 13 , 17 , 19 ]. This special issue also covers a wide range of article types including research article [ [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , 11 , 12 , 15 , 16 , [18] , [19] , [20] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] ], reviews [ 14 , 17 , 21 , 22 , 27 ], perspectives [ 10 , 13 ] and opinion paper [ 18 ].…”