Repair of facial nerve crush injury in rabbits using collagen plus basic fibroblast growth factor

Abstract

Facial nerves are frequently crushed or cut during facial surgery. In this study, the feasibility of repairing facial nerves in rabbits after crush or cut off injury was evaluated using collagen conduits with A collagen‐binding domain (CBD)‐human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). A total of 39 six‐month‐old New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of nine rabbits, and bilateral crush or cut off injuries were made on each animal's face. Three rabbits were classified as the healthy control. The facial nerves were cut or crushed and then were either untreated or wrapped with a collagen conduit plus bFGF. At the 15, 30, and 90 days after the injury, three rabbits in each group were sacrificed. Regeneration of the injured facial nerve was evaluated using electrophysiological examination (compound muscle action potentials, CAMPs), scanning electron microscopy, and histological observation. The results suggested that using collagen conduits with recombinant proteins CBD‐bFGF to repair facial nerves with crush or cut off injuries promoted functional facial nerve recovery. This treatment, as a possible therapeutic for patients with facial nerve injury, requires further investigation.

Biomaterial-Based bFGF Delivery for Nerve Repair

“…Besides, a collagen conduit was combined with bFGF to repair facial nerve injury in rabbits. The results of the electrophysiological examination and histological examination showed that the collagen conduit with CBD-bFGF was helpful for nerve repair [ 82 ].…”

The application of collagen in the repair of peripheral nerve defect

“…Growth factors are involved in the regulation of various cellular processes. Combining collagen-based nerve conduits with growth factors could create a more appropriate microenvironment for nerve • Rat-tail collagen gel with the anchored bFGF (Ma et al, 2017) • Functional recovery and nerve growth similar to autograft (Ma et al, 2017) • Rat (Ma et al, 2017) Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology frontiersin.org • Promotes neurite extension (Fujimoto et al, 1997) • Linear ordered collagen scaffold (LOCS) filled with collagen binding bFGF (CBD-bFGF) (Ma et al 2014a, Cui et al 2014 • Sustained release (Ma et al 2014a, Cui et al 2014 • Sciatic nerve (Ma et al 2014a, Fujimaki et al, 2017 • Rat (Ma et al 2014a, Fujimaki et al, 2017 • Stimulates SCs proliferation (Wang et al, 2003) • Oriented collagen tubes (Fujimaki et al, 2017) • Guide axon growth, promote nerve regeneration and functional restoration (Ma et al 2014a, Cui et al 2014 • Facial nerve (Cui et al 2014, Wang et al 2020 • Minipigs (Cui et al 2014) • Collagen conduits filled with CBD-bFGF (Wang et al, 2020) • Improved nerve repair and recovery of motor function (Fujimaki et al, 2017) • Rabbit (Wang et al, 2020) • Combine with CNTF (Cui et al, 2014) • Promote functional facial nerve recovery (Wang et al, 2020) • Synergistic effect (Cui et al, 2014) Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF)…”

“…The N-terminal of native bFGF was fused with a CBD, TKKTLRT, which could specifically bind to collagen (Li et al, 2011;Ma et al, 2014a). The sustained release of the bFGF further improved nerve regeneration in vivo (Cui et al, 2014;Wang et al, 2020).…”

Recent update on craniofacial tissue engineering

“…The use of conduits for neural repair is a common strategy where different materials and/or grafts are implanted at the injury site to guide the neuronal regeneration. 107 Different additives have been tested on the fabricated scaffolds for neuronal regeneration, such as fibroblast growth factor, 108 IL-6, neurotrophins, glial-derived neurotrophins, and persephin. 109 Most of the reported studies have used pluripotent stem cells because they are easy to harvest and readily differentiate to nerve tissue.…”