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Microchannel-based regenerative scaffold for chronic peripheral nerve interfacing in amputees.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Srinivasan, A; Tahilramani, M; Bentley, JT; Gore, RK; Millard, DC; Mukhatyar, VJ; Joseph, A; Haque, AS; Stanley, GB; English, AW; Bellamkonda, RV
Published in: Biomaterials
February 2015

Neurally controlled prosthetics that cosmetically and functionally mimic amputated limbs remain a clinical need because state of the art neural prosthetics only provide a fraction of a natural limb's functionality. Here, we report on the fabrication and capability of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and epoxy-based SU-8 photoresist microchannel scaffolds to serve as viable constructs for peripheral nerve interfacing through in vitro and in vivo studies in a sciatic nerve amputee model where the nerve lacks distal reinnervation targets. These studies showed microchannels with 100 μm × 100 μm cross-sectional areas support and direct the regeneration/migration of axons, Schwann cells, and fibroblasts through the microchannels with space available for future maturation of the axons. Investigation of the nerve in the distal segment, past the scaffold, showed a high degree of organization, adoption of the microchannel architecture forming 'microchannel fascicles', reformation of endoneurial tubes and axon myelination, and a lack of aberrant and unorganized growth that might be characteristic of neuroma formation. Separate chronic terminal in vivo electrophysiology studies utilizing the microchannel scaffolds with permanently integrated microwire electrodes were conducted to evaluate interfacing capabilities. In all devices a variety of spontaneous, sensory evoked and electrically evoked single and multi-unit action potentials were recorded after five months of implantation. Together, these findings suggest that microchannel scaffolds are well suited for chronic implantation and peripheral nerve interfacing to promote organized nerve regeneration that lends itself well to stable interfaces. Thus this study establishes the basis for the advanced fabrication of large-electrode count, wireless microchannel devices that are an important step towards highly functional, bi-directional peripheral nerve interfaces.

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Published In

Biomaterials

DOI

EISSN

1878-5905

ISSN

0142-9612

Publication Date

February 2015

Volume

41

Start / End Page

151 / 165

Related Subject Headings

  • Tissue Scaffolds
  • Sciatic Nerve
  • Rats
  • Nerve Regeneration
  • Ganglia, Spinal
  • Evoked Potentials
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Biomedical Engineering
 

Citation

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Srinivasan, A., Tahilramani, M., Bentley, J. T., Gore, R. K., Millard, D. C., Mukhatyar, V. J., … Bellamkonda, R. V. (2015). Microchannel-based regenerative scaffold for chronic peripheral nerve interfacing in amputees. Biomaterials, 41, 151–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.11.035
Srinivasan, Akhil, Mayank Tahilramani, John T. Bentley, Russell K. Gore, Daniel C. Millard, Vivek J. Mukhatyar, Anish Joseph, et al. “Microchannel-based regenerative scaffold for chronic peripheral nerve interfacing in amputees.Biomaterials 41 (February 2015): 151–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.11.035.
Srinivasan A, Tahilramani M, Bentley JT, Gore RK, Millard DC, Mukhatyar VJ, et al. Microchannel-based regenerative scaffold for chronic peripheral nerve interfacing in amputees. Biomaterials. 2015 Feb;41:151–65.
Srinivasan, Akhil, et al. “Microchannel-based regenerative scaffold for chronic peripheral nerve interfacing in amputees.Biomaterials, vol. 41, Feb. 2015, pp. 151–65. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.11.035.
Srinivasan A, Tahilramani M, Bentley JT, Gore RK, Millard DC, Mukhatyar VJ, Joseph A, Haque AS, Stanley GB, English AW, Bellamkonda RV. Microchannel-based regenerative scaffold for chronic peripheral nerve interfacing in amputees. Biomaterials. 2015 Feb;41:151–165.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biomaterials

DOI

EISSN

1878-5905

ISSN

0142-9612

Publication Date

February 2015

Volume

41

Start / End Page

151 / 165

Related Subject Headings

  • Tissue Scaffolds
  • Sciatic Nerve
  • Rats
  • Nerve Regeneration
  • Ganglia, Spinal
  • Evoked Potentials
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Biomedical Engineering