Assessments of regenerative potential of silymarin nanoparticles loaded into chitosan conduit on peripheral nerve regeneration: a transected sciatic nerve model in rat

ABSTRACT

Purpose

It is compulsory to make a tension-free, end-to-end repair in transected injuries. However, when it comes to longer defects, placement of an autograft or nerve conduits is required. The present study was designed to assess regenerative potential of silymarin nanoparticles loaded into chitosan conduit on peripheral nerve regeneration in a transected sciatic nerve model in rat.

Methods

In NML group left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and after careful hemostasis skin was closed. In TSC group left sciatic nerve was transected and stumps were fixed in adjacent muscle. In CTN group, 10-mm sciatic nerve defects were bridged using a chitosan. In CTN/NSLM group, 10-mm sciatic nerve defects were bridged using a chitosan conduit and 100 µL silymarin nanoparticles were administered into the conduit. The regenerated fibers were studied 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery. Assessment of nerve regeneration was based on behavioral, functional, biomechanical, histomorphometric, and immuohistochemical criteria.

Results

The behavioral, functional, electrophysiological, and biomechanical studies confirmed significant recovery of regenerated axons in CTN/NSLM group (P < 0.05). Quantitative morphometric analyses of regenerated fibers showed number and diameter of myelinated fibers in CTN/NSLM group were significantly higher than in CTN group (P < 0.05).

Discussion

This demonstrated potential of using chitosan-silymarin nanoparticles in peripheral nerve regeneration without limitations of donor-site morbidity associated with isolation of autograft. It is also cost saving and may have clinical implications for surgical management of patients after peripheral nerve transection.

KEYWORDS:

• Peripheral nerve
• sciatic
• silymarin nanoparticle
• chitosan
• rat

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research of the University for the technical expertise.

Disclosure statement

There were no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Notes on contributors

Pouria Ebrahimi-Zadehlou

Pouria Ebrahim-Zadelou, DVM, is a research assistant working on peripheral nerve repair.

Alireza Najafpour

Alireza Najafpour, associate professor of veterinary surgery, is working on nerve repair.

Rahim Mohammadi

Rahim Mohammadi, associate professor of veterinary surgery, is working on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.