Multimodular Bio-Inspired Organized Structures Guiding Long-Distance Axonal Regeneration

The study addresses the challenge of nerve regeneration over long distances after injuries such as peripheral nerve injury (PNI) or spinal cord injury (SCI). These injuries disrupt the aligned architecture of nerve fibers, hindering growth and guidance. To overcome these limitations, the researchers developed a multimodular conduit consisting of poly-L-lactide acid (PLA) fibers within hyaluronic acid (HA) modules, pre-seeded with Schwann cells (SC). This structure aims to support and direct axon extension. The multimodular conduit effectively promoted directed axon growth from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) explants over 21 days. Furthermore, a 'neural cord' formed within the HA modules could be extracted and cultured independently, offering potential for ex vivo nerve generation for transplantation.

• 1
  The multimodular conduit promoted directed axon growth from DRG explants, indicating its effectiveness for regenerating long tissue defects in the nervous system.
• 2
  Schwann cells (SC) exhibited higher density and more uniform distribution within multimodular conduits compared to unimodular conduits, suggesting better cell organization and support for axon growth.
• 3
  A 'neural cord,' comprising PLA fibers and SC, could be extracted from the HA modules and cultured independently, demonstrating the potential for generating viable, transplantable nerve tissue in vitro.