Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2023, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (1): 207-212.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.344836

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Electrodeposition of chitosan/graphene oxide conduit to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration

Ya-Nan Zhao1, 2, #, Ping Wu1, #, Zi-Yuan Zhao3, Fei-Xiang Chen1, Ao Xiao1, Zhi-Yi Yue1, Xin-Wei Han2, Yong Zheng1, *, Yun Chen1, *   

  1. 1Department of Biomedical Engineering and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immune Related Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China; 2Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China; 3Clinical Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, China
  • Online:2023-01-15 Published:2022-06-17
  • Contact: Yong Zheng, PhD, zhengyong@whu.edu.cn; Yun Chen, PhD, yunchen@whu.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81871493 (to YC) and the Medical Science Advancement Program (Clinical Medicine) of Wuhan University, No. TFLC2018003 (to YC).

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Abstract: Currently available commercial nerve guidance conduits have been applied in the repair of peripheral nerve defects. However, a conduit exhibiting good biocompatibility remains to be developed. In this work, a series of chitosan/graphene oxide (GO) films with concentrations of GO varying from 0–1 wt% (collectively referred to as CHGF-n) were prepared by an electrodeposition technique. The effects of CHGF-n on proliferation and adhesion abilities of Schwann cells were evaluated. The results showed that Schwann cells exhibited elongated spindle shapes and upregulated expression of nerve regeneration-related factors such as Krox20 (a key myelination factor), Zeb2 (essential for Schwann cell differentiation, myelination, and nerve repair), and transforming growth factor β (a cytokine with regenerative functions). In addition, a nerve guidance conduit with a GO content of 0.25% (CHGFC-0.25) was implanted to repair a 10-mm sciatic nerve defect in rats. The results indicated improvements in sciatic functional index, electrophysiology, and sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle histology compared with the CHGFC-0 group, and similar outcomes to the autograft group. In conclusion, we provide a candidate method for the repair of peripheral nerve defects using free-standing chitosan/GO nerve conduits produced by electrodeposition.

Key words: chitosan, electrodeposition, free-standing, graphene oxide, nerve conduit, nerve factors, Schwann cells, tissue engineerin