Preparation and performance of electrically conductive decellularized nerve matrix hydrogel conduits

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) presents significant clinical challenges, often requiring surgical intervention for nerve gaps.
• Electrically conductive polymers (CPs) are emerging as promising materials for nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) in PNI repair.
• Polypyrrole (PPy) is a widely used CP due to its high conductivity and biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct and evaluate novel electrically conductive nerve conduits by combining polypyrrole (PPy) with a chitosan (CS) hydrogel system containing decellularized nerve matrix (DNM).
• To investigate the impact of varying PPy concentrations on the physical, mechanical, and biological properties of the developed nerve conduits.
• To assess the potential of these advanced nerve conduits for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of four groups of nerve conduits with varying PPy concentrations within a CS/DNM hydrogel system.
• Evaluation of electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, and degradation rates of the fabricated conduits.
• In vitro assessment of cytocompatibility using cytotoxicity and live/dead assays to evaluate cell adhesion and growth.

Main Results:

• Electrical conductivity of the nerve conduits was directly proportional to PPy concentration.
• Mechanical properties improved with increasing PPy concentration, up to 8%, beyond which they decreased.
• The combination of PPy and DNM provided suitable degradation properties, and in vitro assays confirmed cell adhesion and growth support.

Conclusions:

• Electrically conductive nerve conduits incorporating PPy, CS, and DNM demonstrate favorable properties for peripheral nerve regeneration.
• The developed conduits exhibit high conductivity, appropriate mechanical strength, controlled degradation, and excellent cytocompatibility.
• These findings highlight the potential of these advanced biomaterials for clinical applications in treating peripheral nerve injuries.