Sciatic Nerve Regeneration in Rat Model With PLGA-MWCNT Conduit Loaded by Fibrin Hydrogel Containing Nanolycopene and
Jafar Ai1, Majid Salehi2,3,4, Shima Shojaie5
1Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:
This study developed a biodegradable neural guidance conduit using electrospun poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to deliver allogeneic Schwann cells (SCs) for enhanced peripheral nerve regeneration. The conduit incorporated fibrin and lycopene-chitosan nanoparticles (Lyco-CNPs) optimized for enhanced stability and drug delivery (diameter: 163 ± 6 nm; zeta potential: -9.3 mV), addressing limitations of prior formulations. Key structural and mechanical properties included a fiber diameter of 251 ± 22 nm, tensile strength of 5.86 ± 0.98 MPa, Young's modulus of 1.68 ± 0.25 MPa, and pore diameter of 21.8 nm, ensuring robustness and nutrient diffusion. In vitro studies confirmed a dose-dependent increase in Schwann cell proliferation via MTT assay with the addition of lycopene nanoparticles (NL). In a 10-mm sciatic nerve defect model in rats, the PLGA-CNT-nanoLyco conduit seeded with SCs demonstrated superior regeneration, evidenced by 35.31% higher myelinated nerve density compared to controls. Histopathological (hematoxylin-eosin/Luxol fast blue) and walking-footprint analysis confirmed enhanced axonal alignment and remyelination. These results highlight the conduit's dual functionality as a structural scaffold and bioactive delivery system for nerve repair.
