New basic insights on the potential of a chitosan-based medical device for improving functional recovery after radical prostatectomy

Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine in Italy: Brief State of the Art of the Principal Research Centers

Regenerative medicine is the branch of medicine that effectively uses stem cell therapy and tissue engineering strategies to guide the healing or replacement of damaged tissues or organs. A crucial element is undoubtedly the biomaterial that guides biological events to restore tissue continuity. The polymers, natural or synthetic, find wide application thanks to their great adaptability. In fact, they can be used as principal components, coatings or vehicles to functionalize several biomaterials. There are many leading centers for the research and development of biomaterials in Italy. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current state of the art on polymer research for regenerative medicine purposes. The last five years of scientific production of the main Italian research centers has been screened to analyze the current advancement in tissue engineering in order to highlight inputs for the development of novel biomaterials and strategies.

Nerve guidance conduit development for primary treatment of peripheral nerve transection injuries: A commercial perspective

Commercial nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) for repair of peripheral nerve discontinuities are of little use in gaps larger than 30 mm, and for smaller gaps they often fail to compete with the autografts that they are designed to replace. While recent research to develop new technologies for use in NGCs has produced many advanced designs with seemingly positive functional outcomes in animal models, these advances have not been translated into viable clinical products. While there have been many detailed reviews of the technologies available for creating NGCs, none of these have focussed on the requirements of the commercialisation process which are vital to ensure the translation of a technology from bench to clinic. Consideration of the factors essential for commercial viability, including regulatory clearance, reimbursement processes, manufacturability and scale up, and quality management early in the design process is vital in giving new technologies the best chance at achieving real-world impact. Here we have attempted to summarise the major components to consider during the development of emerging NGC technologies as a guide for those looking to develop new technology in this domain. We also examine a selection of the latest academic developments from the viewpoint of clinical translation, and discuss areas where we believe further work would be most likely to bring new NGC technologies to the clinic. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: NGCs for peripheral nerve repairs represent an adaptable foundation with potential to incorporate modifications to improve nerve regeneration outcomes. In this review we outline the regulatory processes that functionally distinct NGCs may need to address and explore new modifications and the complications that may need to be addressed during the translation process from bench to clinic.

Cavernous Branched Nerve Regeneration Using Non-Tubular Artificial Nerve Sheets Using Freeze-Dried Alginate Gel Combined With Polyglycolic Acid Mesh in a Rat Model

Introduction

Neuroprotection and neuroregeneration of cavernous nerve plexus by biological/bioengineering solutions may have the potential to maintain erectile function.

Aims

We evaluated the efficacy of a newly developed artificial nerve sheet using freeze-dried alginate (ALG) with polyglycolic acid (PGA) mesh in a rat model. Methods: Bilateral cavernous nerves of male rats were excised to make an approximately 2 mm gap. A piece of the sponge-like freeze-dried sheet created by covalent cross-linking of ALG gel combined with PGA mesh was placed over the gap to cover each stump without any neural anastomosis. We compared erectile functions in the ALG groups with those in the sham group and the bilateral nerve excision group (n = 12, each).

Main Outcome Measures

Main outcome measure was a rat model with cavernous nerve excision.

Results

All rats in the sham group had erection at 63 or 64 days, and mating behavior was confirmed in 10 rats (83.3%) of the sham group at 56 to 62 days. No erection and mating behavior was observed in the excision group. Ten of the 12 (83.3%) rats in the ALG group had a mating behavior and an erection, and the rates of erection and mating behavior were significantly higher in the ALG group than those in the excision group (P < .01, P < .01, respectively). Using a retrograde FluoroGold, the rate of FluoroGold positive pelvic ganglia proximal to the gap at 61 or 62 days was significantly higher in the ALG group than that in the excision group (P = .014).

Conclusion

The results of our animal study have demonstrated that simply filling the cavernous nerve gap using the non-tubular artificial nerve sheets made of ALG with PGA mesh restored erectile function after cavernous nerve excision.

Narita S, Obara T, Ishikawa N, et al. Cavernous Branched Nerve Regeneration Using Non-Tubular Artificial Nerve Sheets Using Freeze-Dried Alginate Gel Combined With Polyglycolic Acid Mesh in a Rat Model. Sex Med 2021;9:100308.