Enhanced Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Elicited by Cell-Mediated Events Delivered via a Bioresorbable PLGA Guide

David J. Bryan; Jin Bo Tang; Antonia H. Holway; Kimberly M. Rieger-Christ; Debra J. Trantolo; Donald L. Wise; Ian C. Summerhayes

doi:10.1055/s-2003-37820

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Table of Contents

J Reconstr Microsurg 2003; 19(2): 125-134
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-37820

Enhanced Peripheral Nerve Regeneration Elicited by Cell-Mediated Events Delivered via a Bioresorbable PLGA Guide

David J. Bryan^1,2 , Jin Bo Tang¹ , Antonia H. Holway¹ , Kimberly M. Rieger-Christ³ , Debra J. Trantolo⁴ , Donald L. Wise⁴ , Ian C. Summerhayes^1,3

¹Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Research and Education Institute, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts
²Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Research and Education Institute, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts
³Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Research and Education Institute, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts
⁴Cambridge Scientific Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Using an established rat peripheral-nerve regeneration model, the authors have demonstrated enhancement of regeneration following subcutaneous priming of bioresorbable poly(lactic-co-glycolic)acid (PLGA) guides in vivo. Four weeks after nerve reconstruction, regeneration of the peripheral nerve through the cell-infiltrated guides displayed a significant increase in the total axon number and myelination status recorded in primed over unprimed guides, demonstrating the importance of cell-mediated events in the regeneration process. To define the different components enhancing nerve regeneration in this model, they have focused on identifying factors capable of eliciting Schwann-cell migration, since this has been identified as an early and necessary event in nerve regeneration. Using an in vitro migration assay, screening of a limited number of cellular and extracellular factors has demonstrated differential promotion of Schwann-cell migration. Of interest, combining fibronectin and bFGF resulted in a two-fold enhancement in Schwann-cell migration over that recorded with either alone. These results describe a rapid screening process for identifying various molecules and combinations thereof, with potential involvement in Schwann-cell migration. Coupling these findings to the use of the PLGA guide as an in vivo delivery system provides a rationale for the selection of exogenous factors to test for the enhancement of peripheral-nerve regeneration.

KEYWORDS

Peripheral nerve regeneration - bioresorbable nerve guides - Schwann-cell migration

Full Text

References

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