Engineered neural tissue for peripheral nerve repair

TLDR

The study presents a new combination of tissue engineering techniques that provides a simple and effective method for building aligned cellular biomaterials. The engineered neural tissue is produced by self‑alignment of Schwann cells in a tethered type‑1 collagen matrix and removal of interstitial fluid, yielding a stable, aligned biomaterial that supports neuronal growth in co‑culture and in vivo rat sciatic nerve repair devices. The engineered neural tissue supported neuronal growth in co‑culture and in vivo rat sciatic nerve repair, and at 8 weeks it enabled robust neuronal regeneration across a critical‑size 15 mm gap, demonstrating its utility for peripheral nerve repair.

Abstract

A new combination of tissue engineering techniques provides a simple and effective method for building aligned cellular biomaterials. Self-alignment of Schwann cells within a tethered type-1 collagen matrix, followed by removal of interstitial fluid produces a stable tissue-like biomaterial that recreates the aligned cellular and extracellular matrix architecture associated with nerve grafts. Sheets of this engineered neural tissue supported and directed neuronal growth in a co-culture model, and initial in vivo tests showed that a device containing rods of rolled-up sheets could support neuronal growth during rat sciatic nerve repair (5 mm gap). Further testing of this device for repair of a critical-sized 15 mm gap showed that, at 8 weeks, engineered neural tissue had supported robust neuronal regeneration across the gap. This is, therefore, a useful new approach for generating anisotropic engineered tissues, and it can be used with Schwann cells to fabricate artificial neural tissue for peripheral nerve repair.