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Growth factor enhancement of peripheral nerve regeneration through a novel synthetic hydrogel tube

Growth factor enhancement of peripheral nerve regeneration through a novel synthetic hydrogel tube
Growth factor enhancement of peripheral nerve regeneration through a novel synthetic hydrogel tube
Object. The authors’ long-term goal is repair of peripheral nerve injuries by using synthetic nerve guidance devices that improve both regeneration and functional outcome relative to an autograft. They report the in vitro processing and in vivo application of synthetic hydrogel tubes that are filled with collagen gel impregnated with growth factors.
Methods. Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) (PHEMA-MMA) porous 12-mm-long tubes with an inner diameter of 1.3 mm and an outer diameter of 1.8 mm were used to repair surgically created 10-mm gaps in the rat sciatic nerve. The inner lumen of the tubes was filled with collagen matrix alone or matrix supplemented with either neurotropin-3 at 1 g/ml, brain-derived neurotrophic factor at 1 g/ml, or acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) at 1 or 10 g/ml. Nerve regeneration through the growth factor–enhanced tubes was assessed at 8 weeks after repair by histomorphometric analysis at the midgraft level and in the nerve distal to the tube repair. The tubes were biostable and biocompatible, and supported nerve regeneration in more than 90% of cases. Nerve regeneration was improved in tubes in which growth factors were added, compared with empty tubes and those containing collagen gel alone (negative controls). Tubes filled with 10 g/ml of FGF-1 dispersed in collagen demonstrated regeneration comparable to autografts (positive controls) and showed significantly better regeneration than the other groups.
Conclusions. The PHEMA-MMA tubes augmented with FGF-1 in their lumens appear to be a promising alternative to autografts for repair of nerve injuries. Studies are in progress to assess the long-term biocompatibility of these implants and to enhance regeneration further.
brain-derived neurotrophic factor, acidic fibroblast growth factor, neurotropin-3, peripheral nerve, sciatic nerve, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate), rat
0022-3085
555-565
Midha, R.
c9e92606-b470-4e78-82a7-a4f881978f1d
Munro, C.A.
29ff292a-b621-483f-afba-bf6cf3413b69
Dalton, P.D.
ad77b93a-1348-445e-927d-6ac0c2c103fb
Tator, C.H.
379727ff-7a23-453d-b348-4fa32a6c6126
Shoichet, M.S.
252f9fed-0af0-4e7c-963a-a1d6f04f7c3d
Midha, R.
c9e92606-b470-4e78-82a7-a4f881978f1d
Munro, C.A.
29ff292a-b621-483f-afba-bf6cf3413b69
Dalton, P.D.
ad77b93a-1348-445e-927d-6ac0c2c103fb
Tator, C.H.
379727ff-7a23-453d-b348-4fa32a6c6126
Shoichet, M.S.
252f9fed-0af0-4e7c-963a-a1d6f04f7c3d

Midha, R., Munro, C.A., Dalton, P.D., Tator, C.H. and Shoichet, M.S. (2003) Growth factor enhancement of peripheral nerve regeneration through a novel synthetic hydrogel tube. Journal of Neurosurgery, 99, 555-565.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Object. The authors’ long-term goal is repair of peripheral nerve injuries by using synthetic nerve guidance devices that improve both regeneration and functional outcome relative to an autograft. They report the in vitro processing and in vivo application of synthetic hydrogel tubes that are filled with collagen gel impregnated with growth factors.
Methods. Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) (PHEMA-MMA) porous 12-mm-long tubes with an inner diameter of 1.3 mm and an outer diameter of 1.8 mm were used to repair surgically created 10-mm gaps in the rat sciatic nerve. The inner lumen of the tubes was filled with collagen matrix alone or matrix supplemented with either neurotropin-3 at 1 g/ml, brain-derived neurotrophic factor at 1 g/ml, or acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) at 1 or 10 g/ml. Nerve regeneration through the growth factor–enhanced tubes was assessed at 8 weeks after repair by histomorphometric analysis at the midgraft level and in the nerve distal to the tube repair. The tubes were biostable and biocompatible, and supported nerve regeneration in more than 90% of cases. Nerve regeneration was improved in tubes in which growth factors were added, compared with empty tubes and those containing collagen gel alone (negative controls). Tubes filled with 10 g/ml of FGF-1 dispersed in collagen demonstrated regeneration comparable to autografts (positive controls) and showed significantly better regeneration than the other groups.
Conclusions. The PHEMA-MMA tubes augmented with FGF-1 in their lumens appear to be a promising alternative to autografts for repair of nerve injuries. Studies are in progress to assess the long-term biocompatibility of these implants and to enhance regeneration further.

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More information

Published date: 1 September 2003
Keywords: brain-derived neurotrophic factor, acidic fibroblast growth factor, neurotropin-3, peripheral nerve, sciatic nerve, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate), rat

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 56588
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/56588
ISSN: 0022-3085
PURE UUID: e5ad825b-0a90-4538-99dc-7d7b36e6a77b

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 08 Aug 2008
Last modified: 08 Jan 2022 01:12

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Contributors

Author: R. Midha
Author: C.A. Munro
Author: P.D. Dalton
Author: C.H. Tator
Author: M.S. Shoichet

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