Elastin-like Proteins to Support Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in Guidance Conduits.

ABSTRACT: Synthetic nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) offer an alternative to harvested nerve grafts for treating peripheral nerve injury (PNI). NGCs have been made from both naturally derived and synthesized materials. While naturally derived materials typically have an increased capacity for bioactivity, synthesized materials have better material control, including tunability and reproducibility. Protein engineering is an alternative strategy that can bridge the benefits of these two classes of materials by designing cell-responsive materials that are also systematically tunable and consistent. Here, we tested a recombinantly derived elastin-like protein (ELP) hydrogel as an intraluminal filler in a rat sciatic nerve injury model. We demonstrated that ELPs enhance the probability of forming a tissue

SUBMITTER: Suhar RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8438224 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature