New artificial nerve conduits made with photocrosslinked hyaluronic acid for peripheral nerve regeneration

For peripheral nerve regeneration, three-dimensional distribution and growth of cells within the porous scaffold are of clinical significance. We demonstrate that cultured rat Schwann cells and neurospheres grow in vitro on new artificial nerve conduits made with photocrosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA). HA tubular conduits have an inner diameter of 1.2 mm with porous nano-structure of 50 microm. After 3 weeks of cultivation, HA conduits remained circular with a round lumen, and construct of cell-conduits maintained the size and shape of the original architecture of the tube. HA itself has the function to facilitate a pathway for cellular and axonal ingrowth during peripheral nerve regeneration. These findings provide the feasibility of using the HA conduits for better cell adhesion and differentiation, leading to axonal regeneration in peripheral nerve reconstruction.