Collagen/nano-sized β-tricalcium phosphate conduits combined with collagen filaments and nerve growth factor promote facial nerve regeneration in miniature swine: an in vivo study

Publication date: Available online 14 December 2018

Source: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

Author(s): Zhen Zhang, Xiang Li, Zheyi Li, Yuxing Bai, Guiqing Liao, Juli Pan, Chenping Zhang

Abstract

Purpose

We aimed to investigate the efficiency of a novel biomedical system that repairs facial nerve gaps in a miniature swine model.

Methods

A collagen (COL)/nano-sized β-tricalcium phosphate (nβ-TCP) conduit combined with COL filaments and nerve growth factor (NGF) was prepared and used to bridge a 35-mm-long facial nerve gap in miniature swine. The functional recovery and axonal regeneration were evaluated by electrophysiological and histological assessments among the different groups at 6 months postoperatively.

Results

Morphological analysis revealed that the COL+NGF, COL/nβ-TCP+NGF, and autograft groups exhibited a superior recovery compared to the COL and COL/nβ-TCP groups. The compound muscle action potential (CMAP) ratios were significantly greater in the COL/nβ-TCP+NGF group compared to the COL+NGF and COL/nβ-TCP groups (p < 0.01). Moreover, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated significantly larger axon diameters and myelin sheath thicknesses in the COL/nβ-TCP+NGF group compared to the COL, COL+NGF, and COL/nβ-TCP groups (p < 0.05). The expression of S-100 was significantly greater in the COL/nβ-TCP+NGF group than in the COL+NGF and COL/nβ-TCP groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The functional nerve biomedical system containing the COL/nβ-TCP conduit combined with COL filaments and NGF could promote facial nerve regeneration, thus showing promising potential for clinical applications.

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