Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To observe and determine the degree of regenerated nerve functional recovery and the number of nerve regeneration in animal experiments of nerve conduit biomaterials transplantation.
METHODS: A computer search was performed in the Chinese Journal Full-test database between 1996 and 2010, using key words of “nerve conduit, nerve injury, conduit materials, biomaterials” in Chinese. Animal experiments of the nerve conduit material in repair of peripheral nerve injury were included.
RESULTS: Any of the existing materials are not sufficient to prepare ideal nerve conduit. Under the premise of the biodegradation, natural materials often have better biocompatibility, and synthetic polymers can regulate the degradation time, as well as mechanical and physical properties of the of materials through the modulation of the ratio of components, the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Ideal nerve conduit for peripheral nerve repair should select the appropriate biomaterials and assembly techniques, to prepare a conduit with good physical properties (permeability, flexibility, degradation and so on), permeability and flexibility are more important for large nerve defects.
CONCLUSION: The single-chamber hollow conduit filled various materials can promote neural regeneration, combination of several different filling materials may be more beneficial to nerve repair.