Development and preclinical evaluation of bioactive nerve conduits for peripheral nerve regeneration: A comparative study

Elena Stocco; Silvia Barbon; Diego Faccio; Lucia Petrelli; Damiana Incendi; Annj Zamuner; Enrico De Rose; Marta Confalonieri; Francesco Tolomei; Silvia Todros; Cesare Tiengo; Veronica Macchi; Monica Dettin; Raffaele De Caro; Andrea Porzionato

doi:10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100761

Development and preclinical evaluation of bioactive nerve conduits for peripheral nerve regeneration: A comparative study

Mater Today Bio. 2023 Aug 5:22:100761. doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2023.100761. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Authors

Elena Stocco^{1

2

3}, Silvia Barbon^{1

3}, Diego Faccio⁴, Lucia Petrelli¹, Damiana Incendi¹, Annj Zamuner^{3

5

6}, Enrico De Rose¹, Marta Confalonieri^{1

6}, Francesco Tolomei⁶, Silvia Todros⁶, Cesare Tiengo⁴, Veronica Macchi^{1

3}, Monica Dettin^{3

6}, Raffaele De Caro^{1

3}, Andrea Porzionato^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosciences, Section of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, Via Aristide Gabelli 65, 35127, Padova, Italy.
² Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Science and Public Health, University of Padova, Via Nicolò Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
³ L.i.f.e.L.a.b. Program, Consorzio per la Ricerca Sanitaria (CORIS), Veneto Region, Via Nicolò Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
⁴ Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, University of Padova, Via Nicolò Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padova, Italy.
⁵ Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering University of Padova, Via Francesco Marzolo 9, 35131, Padova, Italy.
⁶ Department of Industrial Engineering University of Padova, Via Gradenigo 6/a, 35131, Padova, Italy.

Abstract

In severe peripheral nerve injuries, nerve conduits (NCs) are good alternatives to autografts/allografts; however, the results the available devices guarantee for are still not fully satisfactory. Herein, differently bioactivated NCs based on the new polymer oxidized polyvinyl alcohol (OxPVA) are compared in a rat model of sciatic nerve neurotmesis (gap: 5 mm; end point: 6 weeks). Thirty Sprague Dawley rats are randomized to 6 groups: Reverse Autograft (RA); Reaxon®; OxPVA; OxPVA + EAK (self-assembling peptide, mechanical incorporation); OxPVA + EAK-YIGSR (mechanical incorporation); OxPVA + Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) (adsorption). Preliminarily, all OxPVA-based devices are comparable with Reaxon® in Sciatic Functional Index score and gait analysis; moreover, all conduits sustain nerve regeneration (S100, β-tubulin) without showing substantial inflammation (CD3, F4/80) evidences. Following morphometric analyses, OxPVA confirms its potential in PNI repair (comparable with Reaxon®) whereas OxPVA + EAK-YIGSR stands out for its myelinated axons total number and density, revealing promising in injury recovery and for future application in clinical practice.

Keywords: Bioactivation; Nerve conduits; Nerve regeneration; Peripheral nerve injuries; Self-assembling peptides.