Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-Ku, Yokohama, 226-8503, Japan.
Biomed Microdevices. 2020 Nov 17;22(4):81. doi: 10.1007/s10544-020-00536-x.
Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) composed of biocompatible polymers have been attracting attention as an alternative for autograft surgery in peripheral nerve regeneration. However, the nerve tissues repaired by NGCs often tend to be inadequate and lead to functional failure because of the lack of cellular supports. This paper presents a chitosan-collagen hydrogel conduit containing cells to induce peripheral nerve regeneration with cellular support. The conduit composed of two coaxial hydrogel layers of chitosan and collagen is simply made by molding and mechanical anchoring attachment with holes made on the hydrogel tube. A chitosan layer strengthens the conduit mechanically, and a collagen layer provides a scaffold for cells supporting the axonal extension. The conduits of different diameters (outer diameter approximately 2-4 mm) are fabricated. The conduit is bioabsorbable with lysozyme, and biocompatible even under bio absorption. In the neuron culture demonstration, the conduit containing Schwann cells induced the extension of the axon of neurons directed to the conduit. Our easily fabricated conduit could help the high-quality regeneration of peripheral nerves and contribute to the nerve repair surgery.
神经引导导管（NGCs）由生物相容性聚合物组成，作为周围神经再生中自体移植物手术的替代方法受到关注。然而，由于缺乏细胞支持，由 NGC 修复的神经组织往往不够充分，导致功能失败。本文提出了一种含有细胞的壳聚糖-胶原水凝胶导管，用于通过细胞支持诱导周围神经再生。该导管由壳聚糖和胶原两种同轴水凝胶层组成，通过模塑和机械锚固附着在水凝胶管上的孔来简单制造。壳聚糖层从机械上增强导管，而胶原层为支持轴突延伸的细胞提供支架。制造了不同直径（外径约 2-4mm）的导管。导管可通过溶菌酶生物吸收，即使在生物吸收的情况下也具有生物相容性。在神经元培养实验中，含有施万细胞的导管诱导神经元的轴突向导管延伸。我们易于制造的导管有助于高质量的周围神经再生，并有助于神经修复手术。
