Nanoscaffolds in Promoting Regeneration of the Peripheral Nervous System

Abstract

The ability to surgically repair peripheral nerve injuries is urgently needed. However, traditional tissue engineering techniques, such as autologous nerve transplantation, have some limitations. Therefore, tissue engineered autologous nerve grafts have become a suitable choice for nerve repair. Novel tissue engineering techniques derived from nanostructured conduits have been shown to be superior to other successful functional neurological structures with different scaffolds in terms of providing the required structures and properties. Additionally, different biomaterials and growth factors have been added to nerve scaffolds to produce unique biological effects that promote nerve regeneration and functional recovery. This review summarizes the application of different nanoscaffolds in peripheral nerve repair and further analyzes how the nanoscaffolds promote peripheral nerve regeneration.

Keywords:

• biological microenvironment
• material properties
• nanoscaffold
• nerve guidance conduits
• nerve regeneration
• peripheral nerve system

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC1102605, 2016YFC1102603), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51672122) and the Natural Science Foundation of Guang-dong Province of China (2016A030313673 and 2015A030313299). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.