A multi-walled silk fibroin/silk sericin nerve conduit coated with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) sheath for peripheral nerve regeneration

The linearly oriented multi-walled silk fibroin/silk sericin (SF/SS) nerve conduits (NCs) can provide physical cues similar to native peripheral nerve fasciculi, but the mechanical properties of which are not excellent enough. In this study, NCs with a novel and bionic design with dual structures were developed. The important features of our NCs is that the internal skeleton (the multi-walled SF/SS conduits) has a bionic structure similar to the architecture of native peripheral nerve fasciculi, which is beneficial for nerve regeneration, and the outer sheath (the hollow poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) [PLGA] conduits) could provide strong mechanical protection for the internal skeleton. The linearly oriented multi-walled SF/SS conduit was fabricated and inserted in the hollow PLGA sheath lumen and then used for the bridge across the sciatic nerve defect in rats. The outcome of the peripheral nerve repair post implantation was evaluated. The functional and morphological parameters were examined and showed that the novel PLGA-coated SF/SS NCs could promote peripheral nerve regeneration, approaching those elicited by nerve autografts that are the first candidate for repair of peripheral nerve defects. Thus, these updated NCs have potential usefulness to enhance functional recovery after repair of peripheral nerve defect.