Matsuo Tomoki, Kimura Hiroo, Nishijima Takayuki, Kiyota Yasuhiro, Suzuki Taku, Nagoshi Narihito, Shibata Shinsuke, Shindo Tomoko, Moritoki Nobuko, Sasaki Makoto, Noguchi Sarara, Tamada Yasushi, Nakamura Masaya, Iwamoto Takuji
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery Center, Kitasato Institute Hospital, 9-1, Shirokane 5-Chome, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 108-8642, Japan.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 30;15(1):3797. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-88221-y.
While silk fibroin (SF) obtained from silkworm cocoons is expected to become a next-generation natural polymer, a fabrication method for SF-based artificial nerve conduits (SFCs) has not yet been established. Here, we report a bioresorbable SFC, fabricated using a novel freeze-thaw process, which ensures biosafety by avoiding any harmful chemical additives. The SFC demonstrated favorable biocompatibility (high hydrophilicity and porosity with a water content of > 90%), structural stability (stiffness, toughness, and elasticity), and biodegradability, making it an ideal candidate for nerve regeneration. We evaluated the nerve-regenerative effects of the SFC in a rat sciatic-nerve-defect model, including its motor and sensory function recovery as well as histological regeneration. We found that SFC transplantation significantly promoted functional recovery and nerve regeneration compared to silicone tubes and was almost equally effective as autologous nerve transplantation. Histological analyses indicated that vascularization and M2 macrophage recruitment were pronounced inside the SFC. These results suggest that the unique properties of the SFC further enhanced the peripheral nerve regeneration mechanism. As no SFC has been applied in clinical practice, the SFC reported herein may be a promising candidate for repairing extensive peripheral nerve defects.
虽然从蚕茧中提取的丝素蛋白（SF）有望成为下一代天然聚合物，但基于SF的人工神经导管（SFC）的制造方法尚未确立。在此，我们报告了一种使用新型冻融工艺制造的可生物降解SFC，该工艺通过避免使用任何有害化学添加剂来确保生物安全性。SFC表现出良好的生物相容性（高亲水性和孔隙率，含水量>90%）、结构稳定性（硬度、韧性和弹性）以及生物降解性，使其成为神经再生的理想候选材料。我们在大鼠坐骨神经缺损模型中评估了SFC的神经再生效果，包括其运动和感觉功能恢复以及组织学再生。我们发现，与硅胶管相比，SFC移植显著促进了功能恢复和神经再生，并且几乎与自体神经移植同样有效。组织学分析表明，SFC内部的血管生成和M2巨噬细胞募集明显。这些结果表明，SFC的独特特性进一步增强了周围神经再生机制。由于尚未有SFC应用于临床实践，本文报道的SFC可能是修复广泛周围神经缺损的有希望的候选材料。
