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Diez-Ahedo R, Mendibil X, Márquez-Posadas MC, Quintana I, González F, Rodríguez FJ, Zilic L, Sherborne C, Glen A, Taylor CS, Claeyssens F, Haycock JW, Schaafsma W, González E, Castro B, Merino S. UV-Casting on Methacrylated PCL for the Production of a Peripheral Nerve Implant Containing an Array of Porous Aligned Microchannels. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:E971. [PMID: 32331241 PMCID: PMC7240584 DOI: 10.3390/polym12040971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Peripheral nerves are basic communication structures guiding motor and sensory information from the central nervous system to receptor units. Severed peripheral nerve injuries represent a large clinical problem with relevant challenges to successful synthetic nerve repair scaffolds as substitutes to autologous nerve grafting. Numerous studies reported the use of hollow tubes made of synthetic polymers sutured between severed nerve stumps to promote nerve regeneration while providing protection for external factors, such as scar tissue formation and inflammation. Few approaches have described the potential use of a lumen structure comprised of microchannels or microfibers to provide axon growth avoiding misdirection and fostering proper healing. Here, we report the use of a 3D porous microchannel-based structure made of a photocurable methacrylated polycaprolactone, whose mechanical properties are comparable to native nerves. The neuro-regenerative properties of the polymer were assessed in vitro, prior to the implantation of the 3D porous structure, in a 6-mm rat sciatic nerve gap injury. The manufactured implants were biocompatible and able to be resorbed by the host's body at a suitable rate, allowing the complete healing of the nerve. The innovative design of the highly porous structure with the axon guiding microchannels, along with the observation of myelinated axons and Schwann cells in the in vivo tests, led to a significant progress towards the standardized use of synthetic 3D multichannel-based structures in peripheral nerve surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Diez-Ahedo
- Tekniker, C/Iñaki Goenaga 5, 20600 Eibar, Spain; (R.D.-A.); (X.M.); (M.C.M.-P.); (I.Q.)
| | - Xabier Mendibil
- Tekniker, C/Iñaki Goenaga 5, 20600 Eibar, Spain; (R.D.-A.); (X.M.); (M.C.M.-P.); (I.Q.)
| | | | - Iban Quintana
- Tekniker, C/Iñaki Goenaga 5, 20600 Eibar, Spain; (R.D.-A.); (X.M.); (M.C.M.-P.); (I.Q.)
| | - Francisco González
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Finca. la Peraleda s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (F.G.); (F.J.R.)
| | - Francisco Javier Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Finca. la Peraleda s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain; (F.G.); (F.J.R.)
| | - Leyla Zilic
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (L.Z.); (C.S.); (A.G.); (C.S.T.); (F.C.); (J.W.H.)
| | - Colin Sherborne
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (L.Z.); (C.S.); (A.G.); (C.S.T.); (F.C.); (J.W.H.)
| | - Adam Glen
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (L.Z.); (C.S.); (A.G.); (C.S.T.); (F.C.); (J.W.H.)
| | - Caroline S. Taylor
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (L.Z.); (C.S.); (A.G.); (C.S.T.); (F.C.); (J.W.H.)
| | - Frederik Claeyssens
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (L.Z.); (C.S.); (A.G.); (C.S.T.); (F.C.); (J.W.H.)
| | - John W. Haycock
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (L.Z.); (C.S.); (A.G.); (C.S.T.); (F.C.); (J.W.H.)
| | - Wandert Schaafsma
- Histocell S.L., Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 801 A, 2, 48160 Derio, Spain; (W.S.); (E.G.); (B.C.)
| | - Eva González
- Histocell S.L., Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 801 A, 2, 48160 Derio, Spain; (W.S.); (E.G.); (B.C.)
| | - Begoña Castro
- Histocell S.L., Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, 801 A, 2, 48160 Derio, Spain; (W.S.); (E.G.); (B.C.)
| | - Santos Merino
- Tekniker, C/Iñaki Goenaga 5, 20600 Eibar, Spain; (R.D.-A.); (X.M.); (M.C.M.-P.); (I.Q.)
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