Preparation and Evaluation of BDNF Composite Conduits for Regeneration of Sciatic Nerve Defect in Rats

The treatment of peripheral nerve injury is still a challenge. The present study was aimed to fabricate a composite nerve conduit containing slow-released brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and evaluate its therapeutic effects on peripheral nerve defect. BDNF and polylactic acid were mixed together and a BDNF-loaded composite conduit was fabricated by solvent evaporation method. The bioactivity of BDNF released from the composite conduit was measured by MTT assay. A rat sciatic nerve defect model was used to compare regeneration potentials of autologous nerve graft, conduit filled with saline, conduit filled with BDNF solution and BDNF composite conduit. Nerve-regeneration was evaluated 3 months after surgery. The results demonstrated BDNF composite conduits prepared in this study remained bioactive for at least 3 months, and can promote the regeneration of sciatic nerve with a 10-mm gap in rats.