ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of electrospun chitosan/polylactic acid (ch/PLA) nerve conduit for repairing peripheral nerve defect in rats. MethodsNerve conducts loaded with ch/PLA was made by the way of electrospun. The mechanical property, hydrophility, biocompatibility were tested, and the scanning electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructure. The same experiments were also performed on pure PLA nerve conducts as a comparison. Then, 54 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly, 18 rats in each group. Firstly, the 10 mm defects in the right sciatic nerves were made in the rats and were respectively repaired with ch/PLA (group A), autografts (group B), and no implant (group C). At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, general observations, sciatic functional index (SFI), electrophysiological evaluation, wet weight of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, histological examination, immunohistological analysis, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to evaluate the effects. ResultsCompared with pure PLA nerve conducts, the addition of chitosan could improve the mechanical property, hydrophility, biocompatibility, and ultrastructure of the nerve conducts. At 4 weeks postoperatively, the regenerated nerve bridged the nerve defect in group A. The SFI improved gradually in both group A and group B, showing no significant difference (P>0.05). Compound muscle action potentials and nerve conduction velocity could be detected in both group A and group B at 8 and 12 weeks after operation, and significant improvements were shown in both groups (P<0.05). The wet weight and myocyte cross section of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles showed no significant difference between group A and group B (P>0.05), but there was significant difference when compared with group C (P<0.05) at 12 weeks postoperatively. Immunohistological analysis revealed that S-100 positive Schwann cells migrated in both group A and group B, and axon also regenerated by immunohistological staining for growth associated protein 43 and neurofilaments 160. Transmission electron microscopy showed no significant difference in the diameter of nerve fiber between group A and group B (P>0.05), but the thickness of myelin sheath in group A was significantly larger than that in group B (P<0.05). ConclusionThe electrospun ch/PLA nerve conduits can effectively promote the peripheral nerve regeneration, and may promise an alternative to nerve autograft for repairing peripheral nerve defect.
ObjectiveTo study the long-term prevention effect of self-developed chitosan electrospun membrane on cerebrospinal fluid leakage. MethodsTwenty-five healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were selected to prepare the bilateral dural defect (0.8 cm×0.8 cm in size) via midline incision of head.Defect of the right was repaired with chitosan electrospun membrane as the experimental group; defect of the left was not repaired as the control group.At 2-16 weeks after operation,one rabbit was sacrificed for the general observation of inflammatory response surrounding bone window and absorption of chitosan electrospun membrane; at 3 and 6 weeks after operation,5 rabbits were sacrificed for sampling to observe histological change and collagen expression by HE and Masson staining,and to measure the expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) by immunohistochemical staining. ResultsNo inflammatory reaction of swelling,exudation,and sppuration appeared in the skin and subcutaneous tissue after operation in 2 groups.There was no adhesion around the chitosan electrospun membrane,and new fiber membrane formed under the chitosan electrospun membrane in the experimental group; no cerebrospinal fluid leakage happened; the chitosan electrospun membrane was gradually degraded with time,and was completely absorbed at 16 weeks.There was uneven scar around the dural detect in control group.Histological observation showed less inflammatory cell infiltration in the experimental group,showing significant difference in the number of inflammatory cells compared with control group at 3,6 weeks (P<0.05); capillary,granulation tissue and collagen fiber massively proliferated; collagen fiber arranged in line,and there was a clear borderline between chitosan electrospun membrane and adjacent collagen fiber.The immunohistochemical staining showed that there were high expressions of bFGF and EGFR in the experimental group,and low expressions of bFGF and EGFR in the control group. ConclusionChitosan electrospun membrane for dural defect of rabbit can effectively reconstruct the dura,and it has exact long-term prevention effect on cerebrospinal fluid leakage.