Long-Term Regeneration and Functional Recovery of a 15 mm Critical Nerve Gap Bridged by Tremella fuciformis Polysaccharide-Immobilized Polylactide Conduits

Novel peripheral nerve conduits containing the negatively charged Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide (TF) were prepared, and their efficacy in bridging a critical nerve gap was evaluated. The conduits were made of poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) with asymmetric microporous structure. TF was immobilized on t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine 2013, Vol.2013 (2013), p.1-12
Main Authors: Hsu, Shan-hui, Chan, Shan-Ho, Weng, Chih-tsung, Yang, Shu-Hui, Jiang, Ching-Fen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air plasma
Angiogenesis
Contact angle
Fourier transforms
Gene expression
Glioma cells
Growth factors
Immobilization
Infrared reflection
Infrared spectroscopy
Magnetic resonance imaging
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Plastic surgery
Polylactic acid
Polysaccharides
Recovery (Medical)
Recovery of function
Regeneration
Scanning electron microscopy
Sciatic nerve
Tremella fuciformis
Tumor necrosis factor-TNF
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Summary:Novel peripheral nerve conduits containing the negatively charged Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide (TF) were prepared, and their efficacy in bridging a critical nerve gap was evaluated. The conduits were made of poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) with asymmetric microporous structure. TF was immobilized on the lumen surface of the nerve conduits after open air plasma activation. The TF-modified surface was characterized by the attenuated total reflection Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and the scanning electron microscopy. TF modification was found to enhance the neurotrophic gene expression of C6 glioma cells in vitro. TF-modified PLA nerve conduits were tested for their ability to bridge a 15 mm gap of rat sciatic nerve. Nerve regeneration was monitored by the magnetic resonance imaging. Results showed that TF immobilization promoted the nerve connection in 6 weeks. The functional recovery in animals receiving TF-immobilized conduits was greater than in those receiving the bare conduits during an 8-month period. The degree of functional recovery reached ~90% after 8 months in the group of TF-immobilized conduits.
ISSN:1741-427X
1741-4288
DOI:10.1155/2013/959261