Peripheral nerve damage can occur as a result of long-term inflammation or injury and can be very difficult to treat. In the United States, approximately half a million people suffer from this condition each year, resulting in operating costs exceeding $2 billion. Although surgeons often use autologous and allogeneic grafts to treat nerve damage, these therapies can be associated with a range of problems, such as immune system suppression, painful growths, and loss of sensation or mobility.
Recently, many scientists have been working to develop new polymer scaffolds, known as nerve guides, to help overcome the shortcomings of traditional transplants. These innovative materials are designed to help cells develop into neurons while meeting important requirements such as adequate strength, biocompatibility, electrical conductivity, and reduced inflammation.
Examples of commercially available materials include:
– NeuraGen®️, NeuroMatrix™️, made of collagen, which promotes cell adhesion and proliferation. Our invention is also made of a biocompatible and non-toxic polymer, which promotes the adhesion and proliferation of nerve cells on its surface.
– Neurotube®️ made of poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), characterised, among other things, by an appropriate degradation rate, which is also offered by our invention.
– Silastic, prepared from medical grade silicone. Given that silicone is non-degradable, they are dimensionally stable after implantation. However, a major disadvantage of these materials is that they require surgical removal after nerve reconstruction. Compared to Silastic, our invention will degrade in the human body in the long term.
– Neurolac®️ made from poly(lactic-co-caprolactone). Slowly degrading, but made from synthetic material. Our invention also undergoes slow degradation, but is made from a natural polymer.
As part of the project, we developed two groups of materials:
(1) thin composite films composed of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P(3HB)), MXenes, and CBD oil, which can be used as coatings for peripheral nerve conduits;
(2) porous scaffolds made of P(3HB), polycaprolactone (PCL), MXenes, and CBD oil, designed to form tubes for peripheral nerve regeneration.
No such combination of materials has been reported in the scientific literature or patent databases. The results of our studies demonstrated a uniform dispersion of the filler within the polymer matrix, the ability to degrade under conditions simulating the human body environment, controlled release of the active substance, absence of cytotoxicity, good adhesion to neuronal cells, as well as their differentiation and proliferation. In addition, the materials exhibited antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Furthermore, the developed composite fabrication method allows for the incorporation of various active substances that can enhance anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects or introduce additional anticancer activity. The fabrication process is rapid and does not require expensive or specialized laboratory equipment.
In the next stage, we intend to adapt the developed material formulations to create more advanced and mechanically optimized scaffolds with appropriate geometry, containing both active substances and encapsulated neural stem cells (NSCs). To this end, we plan to employ additive manufacturing techniques, including bioprinting and melt electrowritting.