Bioresorbable glass fibres facilitate peripheral nerve regeneration

This is a proof of principle report showing that fibres of Bioglass 45S5 can form a biocompatible scaffold to guide regrowing peripheral axons in vivo. We demonstrate that cultured rat Schwann cells and fibroblasts grow on Bioglass fibres in vitro using SEM and immunohistochemistry, and provide qualitative and quantitative evidence of axonal regeneration through a Silastic conduit filled with Bioglass fibres in vivo (across a 0.5 cm interstump gap in the sciatic nerves of adult rats). Axonal regrowth at 4 weeks is indistinguishable from that which occurs across an autograft. Bioglass fibres are not only biocompatible and bioresorbable, which are absolute requirements of successful devices, but are also amenable to bioengineering, and therefore have the potential for use in the most challenging clinical cases, where there are long inter-stump gaps to be bridged.