Piezoelectric guidance channels enhance regeneration in the mouse sciatic nerve after axotomy

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(87)91570-8

Brain Research

Volume 436, Issue 1, 8 December 1987, Pages 165-168

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(87)91570-8 Get rights and content

Abstract

Piezoelectric nerve guidance channels made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) were evaluated in a transected mouse sciatic nerve model. Poled PVDF channels were compared to unpoled PVDF channels after 4 and 12 weeks of implantation. In all animals, the proximal and distal nerve stumps were bridged by a continuous nerve cable. Nerves regenerated in poled channels contained a higher number of myelinated axons than those regenerated in unpoled channels at both time periods. We conclude that piezoelectric nerve guidance channels enhance peripheral nerve regeneration and provide a tool to investigate the influence of electrical activity on nerve regeneration.

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Citation Excerpt :
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Patient deaths resulting from cardiovascular diseases are increasing across the globe, posing the greatest risk to patients in developed countries. Myocardial infarction, as a result of inadequate blood flow to the myocardium, results in irreversible loss of cardiomyocytes which can lead to heart failure. A sequela of myocardial infarction is scar formation that can alter the normal myocardial architecture and result in arrhythmias. Over the past decade, a myriad of tissue engineering approaches has been developed to fabricate engineered scaffolds for repairing cardiac tissue. This paper highlights the recent application of electrically conductive nanomaterials (carbon and gold-based nanomaterials, and electroactive polymers) to the development of scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering. Moreover, this work summarizes the effects of these nanomaterials on cardiac cell behavior such as proliferation and migration, as well as cardiomyogenic differentiation in stem cells.

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Short communicationPiezoelectric guidance channels enhance regeneration in the mouse sciatic nerve after axotomy

Abstract

Brain Research

The electromechanical connection: piezoelectric polymers in artificial organs

ASAIO J.

Effect of weak, pulsing electromagnetic fields on neural regeneration in the rat

Clin. Ortho. Rel. Res.

Short communication
Piezoelectric guidance channels enhance regeneration in the mouse sciatic nerve after axotomy