| As alternatives to nerve autografts, 12 mm long non-biodegradable poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) (PHEMA-MMA) tubes used in bridging 10 mm rat sciatic nerve gaps were investigated for their biostability, biocompatibility, and capacity for nerve regeneration in the short- and longer-term (up to 16 weeks).; In vivo 8 week results were encouraging in that the tubes were biostable, biocompatible, and good nerve regeneration was seen following tube repair. At 16 weeks, some of the regeneration outcome parameters were significantly worse in the tube group than the autograft group, whereas a tube sub-group (which included non-collapsed tubes with contained regenerating cables) was more comparable to the autografts. Some of the 16 week tubes displayed signs of collapse, degradation, chronic inflammation, and calcification.; Future modified nerve tubes that can resist collapse (caused by several mechanisms including mechanical compression, phagocytotic degradation, and osmotic pressure explored in this study) may allow regeneration comparable to nerve autografts. |
