Smart Microtube Array Membrane Scaffold for Nerve Regeneration---Fabrication, in vitro and in vivo Evaluation

Novel intelligent scaffold is proposed for better regeneration of damaged nerve tissue. Designed based on an advance nerve guide conduit (NGC) model, this scaffold will be fabricated via novel bio-electrospinning process as tissue engineering scaffold, integrated with cells and neurotrophic factors in situ. The scaffold possesses several unique structural characteristics, such as micron scale unit, highly aligned, and one-by-one connected microtubes array membrane (MTAM) with tunable porous wall structure. This design addresses specific needs of larger surface area for cells attachment, neuron cell growth guiding, physical protection and bio-compounds permeation. The degradable nature of base materials, in conjunction with structural design, may contribute to the stage-wise release of neurotrophic factors, and avoid second surgery. This porous-walled MTA scaffold can service as an in vitro cells co-culture system, with possible fast translations of in vitro data towards in vivo one. This two-year project will be divided into (1) fabrication of MTA scaffold with porous wall for permeation and stage-wise release of growth factors, in vitro study including the biocompatibility and cells interaction through co-culture of nerve stem cell (NSC) and glial cells, and (2) in vivo animal model and evaluation. Ultimate goal for this project is to establish bio-electrospinning process for fabricating intelligent MTA scaffold, integrated with NSC and growth factors in situ, for effective nerve regeneration.