Page 222 - IJB-10-3

International

Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Preparation and characterization of angled

dual- and multi-branched nerve guidance
conduits

Yinchu Dong , Wenbi Wu , Haofan Liu , Xuebing Jiang, Li Li, Li Zhang, Yi Zhang,
†
†
†

Jing Luo, and Maling Gou*
Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China
Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Special Issue of International Journal of Bioprinting in the BDMC 2023
Conference)
Abstract

Branched nerve guidance conduit (NGC) provides a promising alternative to
autografts for the effective treatment of severe peripheral nerve injuries. Despite
this, the impact of branched architecture on nerve regeneration remains unclear,
particularly concerning branch angle and number in multi-branched NGCs. In
this study, we investigated the effects of branch angle and number on nerve
regeneration by preparing and characterizing multi-angled and multi-branched
NGCs. We designed and fabricated dual-branched NGCs (DBNs) with various
branch angles and multi-branched NGCs (MBNs) through a digital light processing
(DLP) printing process. When branched NGCs were implanted to bridge the linear
† These authors contributed equally sciatic nerve gap, nerve dual branches with acute (45°), right (90°), or obtuse (120°)
to this work.
branch angles were formed in DBNs, while nerve multi-branches were generated in
*Corresponding author: MBNs. The regenerated nerves in DBNs with various angles exhibited comparable
Maling Gou electrophysiological conduction and histological morphologies, indicating that the
(goumaling@scu.edu.cn)
branch angle of dual-branched NGCs may not affect nerve branch regeneration. In
Citation: Dong Y, Wu W, contrast, the diameter of the regenerated nerve branches in MBNs decreased with
Liu H, et al. Preparation and
characterization of angled increasing distance from the scaffold center, highlighting the potential significance
dual- and multi-branched nerve of branch number in the design of branched NGCs. This study contributes valuable
guidance conduits. Int J Bioprint. insights for designing, preparing, and applying branched NGCs, offering potential
2024;10(3):1750.
doi: 10.36922/ijb.1750 assistance in advancing nerve regeneration strategies.
Received: September 2, 2023
Accepted: October 30, 2023 Keywords: 3D printing; Nerve regeneration; Branched nerve conduit; Nerve graft
Published Online: January 15, 2024
substitute
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution, 1. Introduction
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of extensively branching nerves,
properly cited. serving as a crucial interface between the central nervous system (CNS) and target
Publisher’s Note: AccScience tissues. The anatomical structures of a branched peripheral nerve are essential for PNS
Publishing remains neutral with functions. Severe segmental peripheral nerve injuries, involving the loss of branch
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional points, commonly occur in facial, arm, or leg nerve injuries. These injuries can lead
affiliations. to de-innervation of target tissues and organs through multiple pathways, resulting in

Volume 10 Issue 3 (2024) 214 doi: 10.36922/ijb.1750