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Pre-clinical evaluation of advanced nerve guide conduits using a novel 3D in vitro testing model

  • Autografts are the current gold standard for large peripheral nerve defects in clinics despite the frequently occurring side effects like donor site morbidity. Hollow nerve guidance conduits (NGC) are proposed alternatives to autografts, but failed to bridge gaps exceeding 3 cm in humans. Internal NGC guidance cues like microfibres are believed to enhance hollow NGCs by giving additional physical support for directed regeneration of Schwann cells and axons. In this study, we report a new 3D in vitro model that allows the evaluation of different intraluminal fibre scaffolds inside a complete NGC. The performance of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibres inside 5 mm long polyethylene glycol (PEG) conduits were investigated in neuronal cell and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cultures in vitro. Z-stack confocal microscopy revealed the aligned orientation of neuronal cells along the fibres throughout the whole NGC length and depth. The number of living cells in the centre of the scaffold was not significantly different to the tissue culture plastic (TCP) control. For ex vivo analysis, DRGs were placed on top of fibre-filled NGCs to simulate the proximal nerve stump. In 21 days of culture, Schwann cells and axons infiltrated the conduits along the microfibres with 2.2 ± 0.37 mm and 2.1 ± 0.33 mm, respectively. We conclude that this in vitro model can help define internal NGC scaffolds in the future by comparing different fibre materials, composites and dimensions in one setup prior to animal testing.

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Metadaten
Author of HS ReutlingenSchuhmacher, Alexander
URN:urn:nbn:de:bsz:rt2-opus4-17152
URL:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7582002/
ISSN:2424-7723
eISSN:2424-8002
Erschienen in:International journal of bioprinting
Publisher:National Library of Medicine
Place of publication:Rockville Pike
Document Type:Journal article
Language:English
Publication year:2018
Tag:3D model; intraluminal scaffold; microfibres; peripheral nerve; regenerative medicine
Volume:4
Issue:1
Page Number:12
First Page:1
Last Page:12
DDC classes:570 Biowissenschaften, Biologie
Open access?:Ja
Licence (German):License Logo  Creative Commons - CC BY-NC - Namensnennung - Nicht kommerziell 4.0 International