Decellularized Peripheral Nerve as an Injectable Delivery Vehicle for Neural Applications

Damage to the nervous system can result in loss of sensory and motor function, paralysis, or even death. To facilitate neural regeneration and functional recovery, researchers have employed biomaterials strategies to address both peripheral and central nervous system injuries. Injectable hydrogels that recapitulate native nerve extracellular matrix are especially promising for neural tissue engineering because they offer more flexibility for minimally invasive applications and provide a growth-permissive substrate for neural cell types. Here, we explore the development of injectable hydrogels derived from decellularized rat peripheral nerves (referred to as “injectable peripheral nerve (iPN) hydrogels”), which are processed using a newly developed sodium deoxycholate and DNase (SDD) decellularization method.

• 1
  The iPN hydrogels thermally gel when exposed to 37°C in under 20 minutes and have mechanical properties similar to neural tissue.
• 2
  The hydrogels demonstrate in vitro biocompatibility through support of Schwann cell viability and metabolic activity.
• 3
  Additionally, iPN hydrogels promote greater astrocyte spreading compared to collagen I hydrogels.