Sciatic nerve repair using poly(ε-caprolactone) tubular prosthesis associated with nanoparticles of carbon and graphene

Autor: Alexandre Leite Rodrigues de Oliveira, Helder José Ceragioli, Claudenete Vieira Leal, Eliana Aparecida de Rezende Duek, Kyl Assaf, Mariana Silveira Derami
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
0301 basic medicine
medicine.medical_specialty
Materials science
Polyesters
medicine.medical_treatment
Basophil Degranulation Test
Biocompatible Materials
02 engineering and technology
Carbon nanotube
Matrix (biology)
Prosthesis Design
Prosthesis
Neurosurgical Procedures
law.invention
Prosthesis Implantation
03 medical and health sciences
Behavioral Neuroscience
Crystallinity
chemistry.chemical_compound
Postoperative Complications
law
medicine
Animals
Original Research
chemistry.chemical_classification
Nanocomposite
carbon nanotubes
Nanotubes
Carbon
graphene
Polymer
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
Sciatic Nerve
Rats
Surgery
peripheral nerves
tubulization
Muscular Atrophy
030104 developmental biology
chemistry
PCL
Rats
Inbred Lew
Graphite
Sciatic nerve
0210 nano-technology
Caprolactone
Biomedical engineering
Zdroj: Brain and Behavior
ISSN: 2162-3279
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.755
Popis: Introduction Injuries to peripheral nerves generate disconnection between spinal neurons and the target organ. Due to retraction of the nerve stumps, end-to-end neurorrhaphy is usually unfeasible. In such cases, autologous grafts are widely used, nonetheless with some disadvantages, such as mismatching of donor nerve dimensions and formation of painful neuromas at the donor area. Tubulization, using bioresorbable polymers, can potentially replace nerve grafting, although improvements are still necessary. Among promising bioresorbable synthetic polymers, poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) are the most studied. Carbon nanotubes and graphene sheets have been proposed, however, as adjuvants to improve mechanical and regenerative properties of tubular prostheses. Thus, the present work evaluated nerve tubulization repair following association of PCL with nanoparticles of carbon (NPC) and graphene (NPG). Methods For that, adult Lewis rats were subjected to unilateral sciatic nerve tubulization and allowed to survive for up to 8 and 12 weeks postsurgery. Results Nanocomposites mechanical/chemical evaluation showed that nanoparticles do not alter PCL crystallinity, yet providing reinforcement of polymer matrix. Thus, there was a decrease in the enthalpy of melting when the mixture of PCL + NPC + NPG was used. Nanocomposites displayed positive changes in molecular mobility in the amorphous phase of the polymer. Also, the loss modulus (E”) and the glass transition exhibited highest values for PCL + NPC + NPG. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that PCL + NPC + NPG prostheses showed improved cell adhesion as compared to PCL alone. Surgical procedures with PCL + NPC + NPG were facilitated due to improved flexibility of the prosthesis, resulting in better stump positioning accuracy. In turn, a twofold increased number of myelinated axons was found in such repaired nerves. Consistent with that, target muscle atrophy protection has been observed. Conclusion Overall, the present data show that nanocomposite PCL tubes facilitate nerve repair and result in a better regenerative outcome, what may, in turn, represent a new alternative to pure PCL or PLLA prostheses.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz: