Comparison of morphological and functional outcomes of mouse sciatic nerve repair with three biodegradable polymer conduits containing poly(lactic acid)

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-containing nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) are currently being investigated for nerve repair as an alternative to autograft, which leads to permanent functional impairment in the territory innervated by the removed nerve. Combination of polymers modifies the physical properties of the conduits, altering their nerve-guidance properties. Conduits made from PLA-only or combined with other polymers have been used successfully for nerve repair, but their efficiency has not been compared. We compared the morphological and functional outcomes of peripheral nerve repair by using NGCs made of poly(lactic acid) and combined or not with polycaprolactone (PLA/PCL) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PLA/PVP). To assess the functional recovery, we employed a mechanical hyperalgesia analysis, sciatic functional index (SFI), and electroneuromyography. The mechanical hyperalgesia analysis showed that the PLA group improved more rapidly than the PLA/PVP and PLA/PCL groups; similarly, in the electroneuromyography assay, the PLA group exhibited higher amplitude than the PLA/PCL and PLA/PVP groups. However, the SFI improvement rates did not differ among the groups. Morphologically, the PLA group showed more vascularization, while the nerve fiber regeneration did not differ among the groups. In conclusion, the PLA-only conduits were superior to the other NGCs tested for nerve repair.