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Trueman RP, Guillemot-Legris O, Lancashire HT, Mehta AS, Tropp J, Daso RE, Rivnay J, Tabor AB, Phillips JB, Schroeder BC. Aligned Bioelectronic Polypyrrole/Collagen Constructs for Peripheral Nerve Interfacing. ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS 2024; 26:2301488. [PMID: 39100393 PMCID: PMC11296654 DOI: 10.1002/adem.202301488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Electrical stimulation has shown promise in clinical studies to treat nerve injuries. This work is aimed to create an aligned bioelectronic construct that can be used to bridge a nerve gap, directly interfacing with the damaged nerve tissue to provide growth support. The conductive three-dimensional bioelectronic scaffolds described herein are composite materials, comprised of conductive polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles embedded in an aligned collagen hydrogel. The bioelectronic constructs are seeded with dorsal root ganglion derived primary rat neurons and electrically stimulated in vitro. The PPy loaded constructs support a 1.7-fold increase in neurite length in comparison to control collagen constructs. Furthermore, upon electrical stimulation of the PPy-collagen construct, a 1.8-fold increase in neurite length is shown. This work illustrates the potential of bioelectronic constructs in neural tissue engineering and lays the groundwork for the development of novel bioelectronic materials for neural interfacing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan P. Trueman
- UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK; Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Owein Guillemot-Legris
- UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK, Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Henry T. Lancashire
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Abijeet S. Mehta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Joshua Tropp
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Rachel E. Daso
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Jonathan Rivnay
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Alethea B. Tabor
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - James B. Phillips
- UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK, Department of Pharmacology, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Bob C. Schroeder
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
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Gordon T. Brief Electrical Stimulation Promotes Recovery after Surgical Repair of Injured Peripheral Nerves. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:665. [PMID: 38203836 PMCID: PMC10779324 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Injured peripheral nerves regenerate their axons in contrast to those in the central nervous system. Yet, functional recovery after surgical repair is often disappointing. The basis for poor recovery is progressive deterioration with time and distance of the growth capacity of the neurons that lose their contact with targets (chronic axotomy) and the growth support of the chronically denervated Schwann cells (SC) in the distal nerve stumps. Nonetheless, chronically denervated atrophic muscle retains the capacity for reinnervation. Declining electrical activity of motoneurons accompanies the progressive fall in axotomized neuronal and denervated SC expression of regeneration-associated-genes and declining regenerative success. Reduced motoneuronal activity is due to the withdrawal of synaptic contacts from the soma. Exogenous neurotrophic factors that promote nerve regeneration can replace the endogenous factors whose expression declines with time. But the profuse axonal outgrowth they provoke and the difficulties in their delivery hinder their efficacy. Brief (1 h) low-frequency (20 Hz) electrical stimulation (ES) proximal to the injury site promotes the expression of endogenous growth factors and, in turn, dramatically accelerates axon outgrowth and target reinnervation. The latter ES effect has been demonstrated in both rats and humans. A conditioning ES of intact nerve days prior to nerve injury increases axonal outgrowth and regeneration rate. Thereby, this form of ES is amenable for nerve transfer surgeries and end-to-side neurorrhaphies. However, additional surgery for applying the required electrodes may be a hurdle. ES is applicable in all surgeries with excellent outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Gordon
- Division of Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M4G 1X8, Canada
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Juckett L, Saffari TM, Ormseth B, Senger JL, Moore AM. The Effect of Electrical Stimulation on Nerve Regeneration Following Peripheral Nerve Injury. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121856. [PMID: 36551285 PMCID: PMC9775635 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) are common and often result in lifelong disability. The peripheral nervous system has an inherent ability to regenerate following injury, yet complete functional recovery is rare. Despite advances in the diagnosis and repair of PNIs, many patients suffer from chronic pain, and sensory and motor dysfunction. One promising surgical adjunct is the application of intraoperative electrical stimulation (ES) to peripheral nerves. ES acts through second messenger cyclic AMP to augment the intrinsic molecular pathways of regeneration. Decades of animal studies have demonstrated that 20 Hz ES delivered post-surgically accelerates axonal outgrowth and end organ reinnervation. This work has been translated clinically in a series of randomized clinical trials, which suggest that ES can be used as an efficacious therapy to improve patient outcomes following PNIs. The aim of this review is to discuss the cellular physiology and the limitations of regeneration after peripheral nerve injuries. The proposed mechanisms of ES protocols and how they facilitate nerve regeneration depending on timing of administration are outlined. Finally, future directions of research that may provide new perspectives on the optimal delivery of ES following PNI are discussed.
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Nan LP, Lin Z, Wang F, Jin XH, Fang JQ, Xu B, Liu SH, Zhang F, Wu Z, Zhou ZF, Chen F, Cao WT, Wang JG, Liu JJ. Ti3C2Tx MXene-Coated Electrospun PCL Conduits for Enhancing Neurite Regeneration and Angiogenesis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:850650. [PMID: 35372318 PMCID: PMC8966647 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.850650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An electrical signal is the key basis of normal physiological function of the nerve, and the stimulation of the electric signal also plays a very special role in the repair process of nerve injury. Electric stimulation is shown to be effective in promoting axonal regeneration and myelination, thereby promoting nerve injury repair. At present, it is considered that electric conduction recovery is a key aspect of regeneration and repair of long nerve defects. Conductive neural scaffolds have attracted more and more attention due to their similar electrical properties and good biocompatibility with normal nerves. Herein, PCL and MXene-PCL nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) were prepared; their effect on nerve regeneration was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The results show that the NGCs have good biocompatibility in vitro. Furthermore, a sciatic nerve defect model (15 mm) of SD rats was made, and then the fabricated NGCs were implanted. MXene-PCL NGCs show similar results with the autograft in the sciatic function index, electrophysiological examination, angiogenesis, and morphological nerve regeneration. It is possible that the conductive MXene-PCL NGC could transmit physiological neural electric signals, induce angiogenesis, and stimulate nerve regeneration. This paper presents a novel design of MXene-PCL NGC that could transmit self-originated electric stimulation. In the future, it can be combined with other features to promote nerve regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ping Nan
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zeng Lin
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xue-Han Jin
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Qi Fang
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Xu
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shu-Hao Liu
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhong Wu
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zi-Fei Zhou
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Tao Cao
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Wen-Tao Cao, ; Jian-Guang Wang, ; Jun-Jian Liu,
| | - Jian-Guang Wang
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Wen-Tao Cao, ; Jian-Guang Wang, ; Jun-Jian Liu,
| | - Jun-Jian Liu
- Department of Orthopedic, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Wen-Tao Cao, ; Jian-Guang Wang, ; Jun-Jian Liu,
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