Issue 42, 2023

Fluorescence imaging of peripheral nerve function and structure

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injuries are common and can cause catastrophic consequences. Although peripheral nerves have notable regenerative capacity, full functional recovery is often challenging due to a number of factors, including age, the type of injury, and delayed healing, resulting in chronic disorders that cause lifelong miseries and significant financial burdens. Fluorescence imaging, among the various techniques, may be the key to overcome these restrictions and improve the prognosis because of its feasibility and dynamic real-time imaging. Intraoperative dynamic fluorescence imaging allows the visualization of the morphological structure of the nerve so that surgeons can reduce the incidence of medically induced injury. Axoplasmic transport-based neuroimaging allows the visualization of the internal transport function of the nerve, facilitating early, objective, and accurate assessment of the degree of regenerative repair, allowing early intervention in patients with poor recovery, thereby improving prognosis. This review briefly discusses peripheral nerve fluorescent dyes that have been reported or could potentially be employed, with a focus on their role in visualizing the nerve's function and anatomy.

Graphical abstract: Fluorescence imaging of peripheral nerve function and structure

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
23 Aug 2023
Accepted
28 Sep 2023
First published
02 Oct 2023

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 10052-10071

Fluorescence imaging of peripheral nerve function and structure

X. Yang, Y. Zhang, Y. Liu, Y. Wang and N. Zhou, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023, 11, 10052 DOI: 10.1039/D3TB01927F

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