1. Electrical stimulation enhances sciatic nerve regeneration using a silk-based conductive scaffold beyond traditional nerve guide conduits
- Author
-
Alireza Soltani Khaboushan, Ashkan Azimzadeh, Saman Behboodi Tanourlouee, Melina Mamdoohi, Abdol-Mohammad Kajbafzadeh, Konstantin V. Slavin, Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar, and Zahra Hassannejad
- Subjects
Nerve repair ,Conductive conduit ,Stem cells ,Electrical stimulation ,Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Abstract Despite recent advancements in peripheral nerve regeneration, the creation of nerve conduits with chemical and physical cues to enhance glial cell function and support axonal growth remains challenging. This study aimed to assess the impact of electrical stimulation (ES) using a conductive nerve conduit on sciatic nerve regeneration in a rat model with transection injury. The study involved the fabrication of conductive nerve conduits using silk fibroin and Au nanoparticles (AuNPs). Collagen hydrogel loaded with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) served as the filling for the conduit. Both conductive and non-conductive conduits were applied with and without ES in rat models. Locomotor recovery was assessed using walking track analysis. Histological evaluations were performed using H&E, luxol fast blue staining and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, TEM analysis was conducted to distinguish various ultrastructural aspects of sciatic tissue. In the ES + conductive conduit group, higher S100 (p
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF