A Dual-Network Nerve Adhesive with Enhanced Adhesion Strength Promotes Transected Peripheral Nerve Repair

Wen Xue, Wen Shi, Mitchell Kuss, Yunfan Kong, Olawale A. Alimi, Han Jun Wang, Dominick J. DiMaio, Cunjiang Yu, Bin Duan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Peripheral nerve transection has a high prevalence and results in functional loss of affected limbs. The current clinical treatment using suture anastomosis significantly limits nerve recovery due to severe inflammation, secondary damage, and fibrosis. Fibrin glue, a commercial nerve adhesive as an alternative, avoids secondary damage but suffers from poor adhesion strength. To address their limitations, a highly efficacious nerve adhesive based on dual-cross-linking of dopamine-isothiocyanate modified hyaluronic acid and decellularized nerve matrix is reportedr. This dual-network nerve adhesive (DNNA) shows controllable gelation behaviors feasible for surgical applications, robust adhesion strength, and promotes axonal outgrowth in vitro. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy is tested using a rat-based sciatic nerve transection model. The DNNA decreases fibrosis and accelerates axon/myelin debris clearance at 10 days post-surgery, compared to suture and commercial fibrin glue treatments. At 10 weeks post-surgery, the strong adhesion and bioactivity allow DNNA to significantly decrease intraneural inflammation and fibrosis, enhance axon connection and remyelination, aid motor and sensory function recovery, as well as improve muscle contraction, compared to suture and fibrin treatments. Overall, this dual-network hydrogel with robust adhesion provides a rapid and highly efficacious nerve transection treatment to facilitate nerve repair and neuromuscular function recovery.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number2209971
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume33
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 10 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Chemistry
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • General Materials Science
  • Electrochemistry
  • Biomaterials

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