Peripheral nerve injuries mainly occur in the extremities and result in functional deficits, and recovery after microsurgical repair is slow (<1 mm/day) and frustrating. To improve the results of nerve repair, it is crucial to promote local Schwann cell (SC) function, neurite outgrowth, and to reduce perineural adhesion. In this study, a nerve wrap electrospun with Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) was designed to wrap around the repaired nerve to achieve the goal. In SC proliferation/migration tests and neurite outgrowth assay, BSP/WPU revealed considerable improvement. In rabbit sciatic nerve repair model, BSP/WPU exhibited significantly higher compound muscle action potential, muscle contraction force, and reduced perineural adhesion. The downstream fascicles of the BSP/WPU group exhibited a 50 % increase in diameter and 100 % increase in myelin thickness compared with the control group. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicated the positive effect of BSP/WPU nerve wrap on nerve regeneration.
Date:
2020-12
Relation:
Carbohydrate Polymers. 2020 Dec;250:Article number 116981.
