Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2022, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (5): 1146-1155.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.324860

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Biomimetic chitosan scaffolds with long-term controlled release of nerve growth factor repairs 20-mm-long sciatic nerve defects in rats

Fa-Dong Liu1, Hong-Mei Duan2, Fei Hao1, Wen Zhao2, Yu-Dan Gao2, Peng Hao2, *, Zhao-Yang Yang2, 3, *, Xiao-Guang Li1, 2, 3, *   

  1. 1Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China; 2Department of Neurobiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; 3Beijing International Cooperation Bases for Science and Technology on Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
  • Online:2022-05-15 Published:2021-11-22
  • Contact: Peng Hao, PhD, hp_sarah@126.com; Zhao-Yang Yang, PhD, wack_lily@163.com; Xiao-Guang Li, PhD, lxgchina@sina.com.
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Nos. 31900749 (to PH), 31730030 (to XGL), 81941011 (to XGL), 31971279 (to ZYY), 31771053 (to HMD); and the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing of China, No. 7214301 (to FH).

Abstract: Although autogenous nerve transplantation is the gold standard for treating peripheral nerve defects of considerable length, it still has some shortcomings, such as insufficient donors and secondary injury. Composite chitosan scaffolds loaded with controlled release of nerve growth factor can promote neuronal survival and axonal regeneration after short-segment sciatic nerve defects. However, the effects on extended nerve defects remain poorly understood. In this study, we used chitosan scaffolds loaded with nerve growth factor for 8 weeks to repair long-segment (20 mm) sciatic nerve defects in adult rats. The results showed that treatment markedly promoted the recovery of motor and sensory functions. The regenerated sciatic nerve not only reconnected with neurons but neural circuits with the central nervous system were also reconstructed. In addition, the regenerated sciatic nerve reconnected the motor endplate with the target muscle. Therefore, this novel biomimetic scaffold can promote the regeneration of extended sciatic nerve defects and reconstruct functional circuits. This provides a promising method for the clinical treatment of extended peripheral nerve injury. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Capital Medical University, China (approval No. AEEI-2017-033) on March 21, 2017. 

Key words: axon, chitosan, functional recovery, myelin sheath, nerve growth factor, peripheral nerve injury, pseudorabies virus, regeneration, scaffold, sciatic nerve

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