Aligned microchannel polymer-nanotube composites for peripheral nerve regeneration: Small molecule drug delivery.

ABSTRACT: Peripheral nerve injury accounts for roughly 2.8% of all trauma patients with an annual cost of 7 billion USD in the U.S. alone. Current treatment options rely on surgical intervention with the use of an autograft, despite associated shortcomings. Engineered nerve guidance conduits, stem cell therapies, and transient electrical stimulation have reported to increase speeds of functional recovery. As an alternative to the conduction effects of electrical stimulation, we have designed and optimized a nerve guidance conduit with aligned microchannels for the sustained release of a small molecule drug that promotes nerve impulse conduction. A biodegradable chitosan structure reinforced with drug-loaded halloysite nanotubes (HNT) was formed into a foam-like conduit with interconnected, longitudi

SUBMITTER: Manoukian OS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6379151 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature