Decellularized sciatic nerve matrix as a biodegradable conduit for peripheral nerve regeneration

The use of autologous nerve grafts remains the gold standard for treating nerve defects, but current nerve repair techniques are limited by donor tissue availability and morbidity associated with tissue loss. Recently, the use of conduits in nerve injury repair, made possible by tissue engineering, has shown therapeutic potential. We manufactured a biodegradable, collagen-based nerve conduit containing decellularized sciatic nerve matrix and compared this with a silicone conduit for peripheral nerve regeneration using a rat model. The collagen-based conduit contains nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and laminin, as demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the collagen-based conduit had an outer wall to prevent scar tissue infiltration and a porous inner structure to allow axonal growth. Rats that were implanted with the collagen-based conduit to bridge a sciatic nerve defect experienced significantly improved motor and sensory nerve functions and greatly enhanced nerve regeneration compared with rats in the sham control group and the silicone conduit group. Our results suggest that the biodegradable collagen-based nerve conduit is more effective for peripheral nerve regeneration than the silicone conduit.