The role of chitin and chitosan in peripheral nerve reconstruction

Chitin is a natural polysaccharide commonly found in nature and chitosan is its partially deacetylated derivative. The properties of both biopolymers allow their wide use in medicine and various industries. This paper presents the possibilities offered by chitin and chitosan for the creation of neurotubes utilized in peripheral nerve repair procedures. In the initial part of this manuscript, experimental studies on both polysaccharides carried out by numerous authors have been presented and their results have been discussed. Further, basic information on Reaxon® Nerve Guide, being the first chitosan tube approved for clinical use, is provided. Finally, existing limitations in the optimal use of chitosan tubes in peripheral nerve reconstruction have been pointed out. It is expected that modification of the properties of chitosan itself as well as enriching neurotubes with components of extracellular matrix, cells, growth factors and filaments will further improve the results of nerve regeneration obtained with chitosan-based nerve conduits.