Artificial, Nerves

Implantation of Cells with Artificial Nerve Bridges. 149... 

Consequently, natural peripheral nerves provide the ideal template for bio-mimetic designs of artificial nerve conduits. Ideally, such constructs would also include molecular signals that guide and support regeneration in the natural environment. Since research on molecular processes associated with peripheral nerve regeneration has accumulated an immense corpus of data over the last half century, we can only mention those pertinent signal transduction pathways that have been considered in the functionalization of nerve constructs. 

With respect to the properties of the implant that will determine its success, two aspects can be distinguished first, the physical structure of the scaffold (see Sect. 3), and second, the biochemical functions of its materials (see Sect. 4). The basic structure of all artificial nerve bridges is a tubular graft to connect the proximal with the distal peripheral nerve stump (Fig. 2). 

Biocompatible materials are needed for the two essential components of the artificial nerve bridge, i.e., the surrounding tube and its interior structure, the latter being either linear filaments or a scaffold with longitudinal pores. The selected material will determine not only the biochemical interaction between cells and graft but also the physical properties of the implant. 

Acknowledgment A research project to develop an artificial nerve implant, conducted by JM and GB, is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (ME 1261/11-1). 

Natural toxins include the most poisonous substances still known to man, and a few are several magnitudes more lethal than the best artificial nerve agents. The author considers the Pfiesteria piscicida microorganism to contain one of the most deadly toxins yet known, but much research needs to be done to confirm this. The author believes that this toxin is dangerous to health at less than one part per trillion. For example, one of these microbes can damage a quarter-sized spot of flesh on man or fish. Moreover, one such bite can disrupt the nervous system of a 10-lb rock-fish. Several bites on a man can cause neurological impairment, including short-term memory loss. 

Kalbermatten, D.F., et al. 2008. Fibrin matrix for suspension of regenerative cells In an artificial nerve conduit. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery 61(6) 669-675. 

In the 1990s, Schakenraad, Robinson, and colleagues performed systematic research on nerve regeneration using scaffolds based on biodegradable copolymers of DL-lactide and s-caprolactone [10,11]. Based on this work, the first and only commercialized artificial nerve repair scaffold was prepared from the biodegradable copolymers of DL-lactide and s-caprolactone [P(DLLA-s-CL)] and is now used clinically under the trade name Neurolac [12],... 

Johnson EG, Soucacos PN. Nerve repair experimental and clinical evaluation of biodegradable artificial nerve guides. Injury 2008 39S S30-6. 

S. Ichihara, Y. Inada, T. Nakamura, Artificial nerve tubes and their application for repair of peripheral nerve injury an update of current concepts. Injury 39(Supplement 4), 29-39 (2008)... 

C. Allmeling, A. Jokuszies, K. Reimers, S. Kail, C.Y. Choi, G. Brandes, C. Kasper, T. Scheper, M. Guggenheim, P.M. Vogt, Spider silk fibres in artificial nerve constructs promote peripheral nerve regeneration. Cell ftolif. 41(3), 408-420 (2008)... 

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