Preparation of Electrospun PLGA-silk Fibroin Nanofibers-based Nerve Conduits and Evaluation In Vivo

Abstract: With advances in technical methodology, the grafting of biocompatible conduits may become a viable alternative for the reconstruction of nerve gaps. In this study, electrospinning was used to fabricate nerve conduits (NCs) from poly(L-lactide-coglycolide)-silk fibroin. Conduits or autograft nerves were employed to bridge 10 mm defects in the sciatic nerves of Sprague–Dawley rats. Six weeks after the operation, morphological and functional assessment showed that nerve conduits from PLGA-silk fibroin grafts promoted the regeneration of peripheral nerves. The effects were similar to those obtained using nerve autografts. This method offers a promising alternative to the use of nerve autografts.