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Mehri Behbehani, et al.

5. Conclusion 4. Hallgren A, Bjorkman A, Chemnitz A, et al., 2013,
Subjective outcome related to donor site morbidity after
This study presented a novel DRG in vitro model that sural nerve graft harvesting: A survey in 41 patients.
allows the testing of intraluminal fibre scaffolds inside BMC Surg, 13 (1): 1–7. http://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2482
nerve guides for the use in peripheral nerve repair. –13–39
This model can be used to assess the performance of 5. Deumens R, Bozkurt A, Meek M F, et al., 2010,
different fibre scaffold candidates in one experimental Repairing injured peripheral nerves: Bridging the gap.
setup. Fibres of different dimensions like nano or Prog Neurobiol, 92(3): 245-276. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.
microfibres, different diameter, materials and packing pneurobio.2010.10.002
densities can be studied. The migration and proliferation 6. Meek M F, Coert J H, 2008, US Food and Drug
of Schwann cells as well as the extensions of axons Administration /Conformit Europe-approved absorbable
from the DRG body into the NGC serve as evaluation nerve conduits for clinical repair of peripheral and cranial
tools. Additionally, cell infiltration into the scaffold nerves. Ann Plast Surg, 60(1): 110–116. http://doi.org/
architecture can be studied, looking particularly on 10.1097/SAP.0b013e31804d441c
cell outgrowth length and cell viability in the scaffold 7. Kehoe S, Zhang X F, Boyd D, 2012, FDA approved
core. Therefore, the current model has a major guidance conduits and wraps for peripheral nerve injury:
advantage of evaluating biomaterial chemistry and A review of materials and efficacy. Injury, 43(5):
medical device design prototypes, and consequently 553–572. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2010.12.030
may result in the refinement of leading candidate 8. Ma F, Xiao Z, Meng D, et al., 2014, Use of natural neural
designs prior to further, more detailed, in vivo analysis. scaffolds consisting of engineered vascular endothelial
growth factor immobilized on ordered collagen fibers
Acknowledgments filled in a collagen tube for peripheral nerve regeneration

We are grateful to the EPSRC (U.K.) for funding of a in rats. Int J Mol Sci, 15(10): 18593–18609.
studentship to MB (EP/L505055/1). This work was http://doi.org/10.3390/ijms151018593
co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the 9. Koh H S, Yong T, Teo W E, et al., 2010, In vivo study of
European Union and the European Community’s novel nanofibrous intra-luminal guidance channels to
Seventh Framework Programme (FP7–NMP–2013– promote nerve regeneration. J Neural Eng, 7(4): 046003.
http://doi.org/10.1088/1741–2560/7/4/046003
SME–7) for NEURIMP under grant agreement no
604450. Confocal and 2-photon microscopy was 10. Jeffries E M, Wang Y, 2013, Incorporation of parallel
electrospun fibers for improved topographical guidance
performed at the University of Sheffield (U.K.) Kroto in 3D nerve guides. Biofabrication, 5(3): 035015.
Research Institute Confocal Imaging Facility, with http://doi.org/10.1088/1758–5082/5/3/035015
thanks to Dr. Nicola Green for microscopy assistance.
11. Ngo T T, Waggoner P J, Romero A A, et al., 2003,
Conflict of interest Poly(L-lactide) microfilaments enhance peripheral nerve
regeneration across extended nerve lesions. J Neurosci
The authors do not have a conflict of interest. Res, 72(2): 227–238. http://doi.org/10.1002/ jnr.10570
12. Faroni A, Mobasseri S A, Kingham P J, et al., 2015,
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