Disclosed is a nano-layered dual hydroxide-biological factor combined system for promoting nerve regeneration to repair a spinal cord injury. The preparation method therefor comprises: 1) synthesizing a nano-layered dual hydroxide CL1; and 2) co-incubating 10 mg CL1 and 200-2000 ng of biological factors NT3, VEGF or bFGF in a low-speed shaker at 4° C. for 2 hours using an ion exchange method, centrifuging same and then obtaining the precipitate. Experiments on transection and resorption spinal cord injury models show that this combined system has a significant recovery effect on the behavior of model mice, can reconstruct the neural circuit of a damaged area over time and achieves an ideal repair effect with regard to a spinal cord injury.

The present invention provides tissue equivalent scaffold structures and methods of production thereof. Such methods include providing a casting chamber comprising an elongate mould portion, axially disposing a lumen template within the elongate mould portion, and at least partly filling the casting chamber with a gel casting material comprising a matrix of fibrils or fibres and an interstitial fluid phase, such that a portion of the lumen template extends above the casting material. The fluid phase of the gel is allow to flow axially out of the elongate mould portion, in a restricted manner, thereby resulting in axial densification of the gel casting material to form a tissue equivalent tubular scaffold. Tissue equivalent scaffold structures according to the present invention are able to support cell populations both within the walls and on the surface of the construct. They have enhanced mechanical strength due to increased collagen density, and are customisable in terms of luminal diameter and wall thickness. They may find application in tubular tissue engineering.

Described herein are methods, compositions, and kits for directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, neuromesodermal progenitors, and neural stem cells into bioengineered elliptical neuroepithelial tissues and bioengineered neuroepithelial tubes that contain a single rosette of polarized neuroepithelial cells and have microscale cellular organization similar to that of an in vivo developing human neural tube.

Biomimetic scaffolds for neural tissue growth are disclosed herein which have a plurality of microchannels disposed within a sheath. Each microchannel comprises a porous wall that is formed from a biocompatible and biodegradable material. The biocompatible and biodegradable material may be polyethylene glycol) diacrylate, methacrylated gelatin, methacrylated collagen, or polycaprolactone, and combinations thereof. The biomimetic scaffolds have high open volume % enabling superior (linear and high fidelity) neural tissue growth, while minimizing inflammation near the site of implantation in vivo.

The present invention relates to a peripheral nerve-specific hydrogel material, which is deliverable in a minimally invasive fashion, sustains the growth of neurons, and speeds recovery following surgical reconstruction.

The present invention is directed to a nerve regeneration conduit including a resorbable tube having a matrix therein. The matrix is characterized by substantially parallel, axially aligned pores extending the length of the matrix. The matrix is formed by the axial freezing of a slurry having little or no significant radial thermal gradient during the freezing process. The matrix is used to bridge the gap between the severed ends of a nerve and provide a scaffold for nerve regeneration.

A preparation method and an application of a composite scaffold for directionally guiding regeneration of optic nerve axons. A major component of the composite scaffold is prepared from one or more degradable biomedical materials combined according to different ratios by a gradient freezing method. To increase a mechanical property of the scaffold or prolong in-vivo degradation time, the scaffold may be cross-linked by a biological cross-linker. After a gelatin is added, the prepared composite scaffold exhibits excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. A problem of solubility differences of the gelatin A produced during gradient freezing can be regulated by sodium alginate, thereby facilitating regular directional pipeline morphology of the scaffold. After cross-linked with genipin, the composite scaffold significantly enhances stability, and the directional pipeline morphology of the scaffold cam provide attachment sites for regeneration of the optic nerve axons, thereby guiding directional regeneration of the optic nerve axons.

A nerve regeneration-inducing tube includes a cylindrical body, and a plurality of fibers that are housed in the body and extend in a longitudinal direction of the body. At least a part of the fibers is a modified cross-section fiber that has an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the fibers, and at least three protrusions that continue in the longitudinal direction of the fibers, protrude from the axis, and have a height of 0.5 μm or more from the axis.

The present disclosure provides fasciculated nerve grafts of customizable lengths and diameters, and methods of preparing the same. The grafts are made by digesting native extracellular matrix (ECM) around the nerve fascicles of a nerve tissue, and the epineurial sheath. One or more of the individual fascicles may then be entubulated in an entubulation material, embedded in or coated with a coating material, or both, to form a fasciculated nerve graft. The fasciculated nerve grafts are customizable and designed to bridge nerve gaps; the modularity of the fasciculated nerve graft allows for restoring continuity to nerve defects of virtually any length and allows for matching the diameter of the patient's recipient nerve.

To achieve in vivo repair of severed mammalian nerve tissue, a system can be employed to induce distraction neurogenesis. At least a portion of the system can be anchored at an injury site, such as between distal and proximal nerve ends. The system can be attached to the proximal nerve end and can place the nerve under micro-tension for an extended period of treatment. The system may also deliver medication or treatment to encourage neurogenesis and to reduce pain in the subject receiving treatment. After the course of treatment, the device can be removed from the injury site, and the nerve ends rejoined.