Tissue-Engineered Peripheral Nerve Guide Fabrication Techniques

The clinical need for readily available and viable conduits to circumvent the use of nerve autografts has driven research to the development of biodegradable tissue-engineered nerve guides (TENGs) to bridge and restore the function of transected peripheral nerves. In the search for an ideal TENG, researchers have introduced increasingly more sophisticated fabrication techniques in combination with a variety of biomaterials to produce organized porous structures conducive to nerve regeneration and functional recovery. The intent of this chapter is to delineate the TENG fabrication techniques that have been studied to enhance the regenerative effectiveness of critically sized peripheral nerve defects. In addition, important design criteria, biomaterial options, and new perspectives on future technologies toward the development of clinically viable solutions are discussed.