Anisotropic scaffolds for peripheral nerve and spinal cord regeneration

Bioactive Materials, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.04.019 · Published: April 13, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Biomedical Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

Long-gap peripheral nerve injury (PNI) and spinal cord injury (SCI) are difficult to treat because native tissue regeneration is limited. Tissue engineering, using scaffolds that mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM), offers a promising alternative by guiding neural regrowth. The review discusses the anatomy of peripheral nerves and spinal cords, current clinical treatments, and the critical components of tissue engineering for nerve and spinal cord regeneration. The review highlights recent advances in creating anisotropic surface patterns, aligned fibrous substrates, and 3D hydrogel scaffolds, emphasizing their effects on nerve and glial cell growth.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Anisotropic structures resembling the native extracellular matrix (ECM) can effectively guide neural outgrowth and reconnection.
2
Aligned fibers facilitate nerve regeneration, at least partly, by promoting the pro-healing macrophage phenotype.
3
Anisotropic hydrogel scaffolds with oriented pores or channels provide guidance cues for cells, affecting their growth direction and rate.

Research Summary

This review focuses on anisotropic topography and scaffolds for regenerating long-gap PNI (>10 mm) and SCI, covering anatomies of native nerves/cords and requirements for regenerative scaffold designs. The review examines fabrication methods and recent progress in anisotropic nerve scaffolds across multidimensional aspects: anisotropic surface patterns (1D), aligned fibrous substrates (2D), and 3D anisotropic hydrogel scaffolds. Finally, the review delineates potential mechanisms of anisotropic architectures in orienting axon and glial cell growth, highlighting challenges and prospects of applying these topographies and scaffolds to nerve regeneration.

Practical Implications

Scaffold Design

Anisotropic scaffolds can promote axon regrowth and myelination.

Therapeutic Strategies

Combining anisotropic topographical cues with biophysical and biochemical cues may enhance nerve regeneration.

Clinical Translation

Stable power supplies and sustained local therapeutic agent release require optimization for translating anisotropic constructs from bench to bedside.

Study Limitations

1
Lack of clinically effective scaffolds.
2
Need for consideration of electrical stimulation, vascularization, and exogenous biochemical molecules.
3
Underlying mechanisms of how topographical cues affect cell behaviors need further understanding.

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