Issue 27, 2023

Electroactive scaffolds of biodegradable polyurethane/polydopamine-functionalized graphene oxide regulating the inflammatory response and revitalizing the axonal growth cone for peripheral nerve regeneration

Abstract

Long-gap peripheral nerve injury remains a major challenge in regenerative medicine and results in permanent sensory and motor dysfunction. Nerve guidance scaffolds (NGSs) are known as a promising alternative to autologous nerve grafting. The latter, the current “gold standard” in clinical practice, is frequently constrained by the limited availability of sources and the inevitable damage to the donor area. Given the electrophysiological properties of nerves, electroactive biomaterials are being intensively investigated in nerve tissue engineering. In this study, we engineered a conductive NGS compounded of biodegradable waterborne polyurethane (WPU) and polydopamine-reduced graphene oxide (pGO) for repairing impaired peripheral nerves. The incorporation of pGO at the optimal concentration (3 wt%) promoted in vitro spreading of Schwann cells (SCs) with high expression of the proliferation marker S100 protein. In an in vivo study of sciatic nerve transection injury, WPU/pGO NGSs were found to regulate the immune microenvironment by activating macrophage M2 polarization and upregulate growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) to facilitate axonal elongation. Histological and motor function analysis demonstrated that WPU/pGO NGSs had a neuroprosthetic effect close to that of an autograft, which significantly promoted the regeneration of myelinated axons, reduced gastrocnemius atrophy, and enhanced hindlimb motor function. These findings together suggested that electroactive WPU/pGO NGSs may represent a safe and effective strategy to manage large nerve defects.

Graphical abstract: Electroactive scaffolds of biodegradable polyurethane/polydopamine-functionalized graphene oxide regulating the inflammatory response and revitalizing the axonal growth cone for peripheral nerve regeneration

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 apr 2023
Accepted
27 may 2023
First published
29 may 2023

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 6308-6318

Electroactive scaffolds of biodegradable polyurethane/polydopamine-functionalized graphene oxide regulating the inflammatory response and revitalizing the axonal growth cone for peripheral nerve regeneration

Q. Zhang, J. Chen, Y. Feng, J. Lin, J. Li, Y. Wang and H. Tan, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023, 11, 6308 DOI: 10.1039/D3TB00837A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements