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 disclosure provides magnetically templated tissue scaffolds, methods of making the magnetically templated tissue scaffolds, and various methods of employing the scaffolds for tissue growth and repair in vitro and in vivo, including peripheral nerve repair.

The subject invention provides devices and methods for alleviating discomfort associated with neuroma formation. The devices and methods of the invention effectively use the body's natural response of reconstructing implanted biomaterials to minimize the size of, isolate, and protect a neuroma. In preferred embodiments, the subject device is a cylindrical cap, wherein the internal chamber of the cylindrical cap physically partitions the nerve to enable an arrangement of nerve fibers (as opposed to haphazardly arranged nerve fibers often produced in neuromas). Tabs arranged on the outside of the cap can be used to manipulate the cap into place on a nerve. The open end can also be configured with flaps that can be used to widen the open end for easier insertion of the nerve into the cap. In addition, the cap's material remodels into a tissue cushion after implantation, which protects the neuroma from being stimulated and inducing pain.

The present invention relates to a neurotrophic factor carrier, particularly to a neurotrophic factor carrier wherein the neurotrophic factor is contained in a porous nerve conduit having micropores formed in microchannels, a method for preparing the same and a method for regenerating a nerve using the same, wherein the neurotrophic factor carrier prepared according to the present invention is applicable to in-vitro and in-vivo researches on nerves.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a nerve conduit, more particularly to an apparatus for manufacturing a porous nerve conduit using glass fibers whereby microchannels are formed using the space between the glass fibers and the defective rate and location-dependent variation of each nerve conduit can be minimized through uniform decompression during the manufacture. The nerve conduit manufactured according to the present disclosure can be manufactured to have various diameters and lengths to be applicable to in vitro and in vivo researches on nerves.

An implantable drug-delivery device for repairing a severed peripheral nerve. The drug-delivery device includes a matrix formed of a biopolymer and an erythropoietin (EPO) entrapped in the matrix. After in vivo implantation of the drug-delivery device, the EPO elutes over a period of 1 day to 12 weeks. Also disclosed is a method for repairing a severed peripheral nerve using the implantable drug-delivery device.

A differential tissue-engineered nerve including motor-like nerves and sensory-like nerves. The motor-like nerve and the sensory-like nerve respectively includes a motor-like nerve outer tube and a motor-like nerve fiber in the outer tube as well as a sensory-like nerve outer tube and a sensory-like nerve fiber in the outer tube. Schwann cells and/or fibroblasts derived from motor nerves and sensory nerves are respectively contained in surfaces or pores of the motor-like and sensory-like nerve outer tubes. Transsynaptic signal molecules Neuroligin-1 and Neuroligin-2 are contained in surfaces or pores of the motor-like and sensory-like nerve fibers. Neuroligin-1 is selectively used to specifically promote synaptic remodeling of motor neurons, while Neuroligin-2 is selectively used to specifically promote synaptic remodeling of sensory neurons, so that repair efficiency of motor nerve cells and sensory nerve cells is improved.

Disclosed are methods, devices and materials for the in situ formation of a nerve cap to inhibit neuroma formation following planned or traumatic nerve injury. The method includes the steps of identifying a severed end of a nerve, and positioning the severed end into a cavity defined by a form. A transformable media is introduced into the form cavity to surround the severed end. The media is permitted to undergo a transformation from a first, relatively flowable state to a second, relatively non flowable state to form a protective barrier surrounding the severed end. The media may be a hydrogel, and the transformation may produce a synthetic crosslinked hydrogel protective barrier. The media may include at least one anti-regeneration agent to inhibit nerve regrowth

A device may include a shaft with a dispensing channel, an evacuating channel, a proximal end, and a distal end. The device may further include an enclosure attached to the distal portion of the shaft, the enclosure having a first portion and a second portion that form a bore when the enclosure is closed. The device may further include a handle attached to the proximal end of the shaft, which is configured to open and close the enclosure. A method of delivering a solution to a nerve repair site may include obtaining such a device, closing its enclosure around the nerve repair site, delivering one or more solutions through the dispensing channel to the nerve repair site, removing one or more solutions through the evacuating channel from the nerve repair site, and opening the enclosure to remove it from the nerve repair site.

Methods for generating porous scaffolds may include tuning a porogen/crystallite's particle size to a desired range and mixing the crystallite particles with a polymer solution. The mixture is then cast to form films. The films are rolled and consolidated around another inner material to create a preform, which is then thermally drawn. The inner material and the porogen can be selectively removed to obtain porous constructs/fibers. The structures can be fuse-printed to produce complex tissue scaffolds with dimensions up to several centimeters and beyond.