TY - JOUR
T1 - Poly(ϵ-Caprolactone) Nanofiber Wrap Improves Nerve Regeneration and Functional Outcomes after Delayed Nerve Repair
AU - Lopez, Joseph
AU - Xin, Kevin
AU - Quan, Amy
AU - Xiang, Sinan
AU - Barone, Angelo A.Leto
AU - Budihardjo, Joshua
AU - Musavi, Leila
AU - Mulla, Sara
AU - Redett, Richard
AU - Martin, Russell
AU - Mao, Hai Quan
AU - Andrew Lee, W. P.
AU - Ibrahim, Zuhaib
AU - Brandacher, Gerald
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
PY - 2019/7/1
Y1 - 2019/7/1
N2 - Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of biodegradable, electrospun poly(ϵ-caprolactone) nanofiber nerve conduits in improving nerve regeneration. Methods: The authors used a rat forelimb chronic denervation model to assess the effects of poly(ϵ-caprolactone) conduits on improving nerve regeneration and upper extremity function. Three groups of rats were examined: (1) negative-control animals (n = 5), which underwent 8 weeks of median nerve chronic denervation injury followed by repair with no conduit; (2) experimental animals (n = 5), which underwent 8 weeks of median nerve chronic denervation followed by repair and poly(ϵ-caprolactone) nerve conduit wrapping of the nerve coaptation site; and (3) positive-control animals (n = 5), which were naive controls. All animals underwent compound muscle action potential and functional testing. At 14 weeks after repair, the median nerve and flexor muscles were harvested for histologic analysis. Results: Histomorphometric analysis of regenerating median nerves demonstrated augmented axonal regeneration in experimental versus negative control animals (total axon count, 1769 ± 672 versus 1072 ± 123.80; p = 0.0468). With regard to functional recovery, experimental and negative-control animals (1.67 ± 0.04 versus 0.97 ± 0.39; p = 0.036) had regained 34.9 percent and 25.4 percent, respectively, of baseline hand grip strength at 14 weeks after repair. Lastly, less collagen deposition at the nerve coaptation site of experimental animals was found when compared to control animals (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Biodegradable, poly(ϵ-caprolactone) nanofiber nerve conduits can improve nerve regeneration and subsequent physiologic extremity function in the setting of delayed nerve repair by decreasing the scar burden at nerve coaptation sites.
AB - Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of biodegradable, electrospun poly(ϵ-caprolactone) nanofiber nerve conduits in improving nerve regeneration. Methods: The authors used a rat forelimb chronic denervation model to assess the effects of poly(ϵ-caprolactone) conduits on improving nerve regeneration and upper extremity function. Three groups of rats were examined: (1) negative-control animals (n = 5), which underwent 8 weeks of median nerve chronic denervation injury followed by repair with no conduit; (2) experimental animals (n = 5), which underwent 8 weeks of median nerve chronic denervation followed by repair and poly(ϵ-caprolactone) nerve conduit wrapping of the nerve coaptation site; and (3) positive-control animals (n = 5), which were naive controls. All animals underwent compound muscle action potential and functional testing. At 14 weeks after repair, the median nerve and flexor muscles were harvested for histologic analysis. Results: Histomorphometric analysis of regenerating median nerves demonstrated augmented axonal regeneration in experimental versus negative control animals (total axon count, 1769 ± 672 versus 1072 ± 123.80; p = 0.0468). With regard to functional recovery, experimental and negative-control animals (1.67 ± 0.04 versus 0.97 ± 0.39; p = 0.036) had regained 34.9 percent and 25.4 percent, respectively, of baseline hand grip strength at 14 weeks after repair. Lastly, less collagen deposition at the nerve coaptation site of experimental animals was found when compared to control animals (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Biodegradable, poly(ϵ-caprolactone) nanofiber nerve conduits can improve nerve regeneration and subsequent physiologic extremity function in the setting of delayed nerve repair by decreasing the scar burden at nerve coaptation sites.
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U2 - 10.1097/PRS.0000000000005715
DO - 10.1097/PRS.0000000000005715
M3 - Article
C2 - 31246816
AN - SCOPUS:85068972277
SN - 0032-1052
VL - 144
SP - 48e-57e
JO - Plastic and reconstructive surgery
JF - Plastic and reconstructive surgery
IS - 1
ER -