OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the properties, application and evaluation method of functional recovery in the repair of peripheral nerve defects using various biological artificial materials, and to search a suitable alternative to peripheral nerves.
METHODS: Using “nerve conduit, peripheral nerve repair, biomaterials, Schwann cells” in Chinese as key words, a computer retrieval for articles from January 2004 to November 2010 was performed. Literatures about tissue engineering nerve and biomaterials were included; repeat study or Meta analysis articles were excluded. A total of 59 papers mainly focus the type, performance, and appropriate evaluation method of functional recovery of biological artificial materials on the restoration of peripheral nerve.
RESULTS: The acellular nerve matrix and the composite biological engineered materials based on synthetic degradable materials as the main body, can be used as ideal scaffold materials for peripheral nerve tissue engineering. Acellular nerve scaffolds solve limited source of autologous nerve, graft rejection and other problems, its toughness and plasticity are close to autologous nerve, its micro-environment is more conducive to peripheral nerve regeneration. Synthetic biodegradable materials have biodegradability, plasticity, permeability and other advantages, and the commercialized products have emerged. If such materials were used to structure the complex materials, it is likely possible to obtain tissue engineered nerve graft with good performance. Functional recovery after peripheral nerve repair is mainly assessed by general and morphology, histological observations, neuromuscular function assessment, as well as molecular biology techniques. The application of various evaluation methods is conducive to screen out the repair materials and construction programs of peripheral nerve injury.
CONCLUSION: The biological artificial materials in the restoration of peripheral nerve injury are rapidly developing, but still need a scaffold of autologous nerve graft. Acellular nerve matrix and composite materials of synthetic biodegradable scaffolds can be used as good scaffold for peripheral nerve, but still need the joint construction with seed cells and neurotrophic factors, in order to achieve good results in promoting regeneration. At present, the effect of repairing peripheral nerve injury is chiefly evaluated by the assessment of neuromuscular function recovery, it is an urgent need to find optimal repair materials and optimal construction scheme to meet tissue engineering neural transplantation and functional rehabilitation requirements, thus achieving repair of morphology, structure and functional reconstruction following peripheral nerve injury.