Electrospun microfiber tubes and self-assembling peptides stimulate neural regeneration in rat sciatic nerve transections

Although many nerve prostheses have been proposed peripheral nerve injury is still a pathology that may impair patient's movements. New synthetic nerve grafts comprising electrospun tubes and tailored self-assembling peptides are used in this study to regenerate 1 cm nerve gap of rat sciatic nerve in vivo. Experimental groups comprise lesioned animals (control), lesioned animals subjected to guide conduits implantation filled with gels or saline solution. Three months after surgery in control group sciatic nerves failed to reconnect the two stumps of transected nerve. In treated animals our experiments showed a significant regeneration and functional reconnection of the stumps of lesion. Neural tracers revealed the re-establishment of functional neuronal connections between the proximal and distal stumps of the lesions in animals subjected to the complete treatment. Our approach is the first neural regenerative strategy making jointly use of different nanotechnology techniques. A similar approach can be adapted to regenerate lesions in tissues like skin and bone.