Photochemical Tissue Bonding: A Promising Technique for Peripheral Nerve Repair

Photochemical Sealing Improves Outcome Following Peripheral Neurorrhaphy

“…We have also previously demonstrated that PTB can be successfully used in peripheral nerve repair with functional and histological results similar to those obtained with conventional epineural sutures [8]. That study indicated that circumferential sealing of the nerve repair site resulted in excellent restoration of normal neural architecture.…”

Nerve repair: toward a sutureless approach

“…2a) and although the mechanism is still not fully understood, it is believed that photons of laser light absorbed by RB create an abundance of free radical species that result in covalent cross-link bonding within the collagen fibres of the epineurium (Fig. 2b) [26]. The major and decisive advantage of PTB is the absence of an increase in temperature inside the nerve, thus avoiding the thermal damage seen with other laser repairs.…”

“…The major and decisive advantage of PTB is the absence of an increase in temperature inside the nerve, thus avoiding the thermal damage seen with other laser repairs. In vivo PTB nerve repair in rats has been achieved integrating RB into epineural sleeves [26], human amniotic membranes [60] and chitosan bandages (Fig. 2a) [2].…”

Recent Approaches for Augmenting Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: Mini Review

“…This bond adds strength to the repair, concentrates neurotrophic and neurotropic factors inside the coaptation where they are needed, excludes inflammatory mediators from the extrinsic tissues, and contains regenerating axons, guiding them distally towards the motor/sensory target. Animal studies in rat sciatic nerve and rabbit common peroneal nerve models have demonstrated to improve axon counts at the site of injury and gait function after end-to-end coaptation with a PTB nerve wrap [59]. Improved gait function has also been demonstrated in a one cm rat sciatic nerve graft model [57,58].…”