New bioresorbable wraps based on oxidized polyvinyl alcohol and leukocyte-fibrin-platelet membrane to support peripheral nerve neurorrhaphy: preclinical comparison versus NeuraWrap

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 17193 - 13
• Main Authors: Stocco, Elena, Barbon, Silvia, Macchi, Veronica, Tiengo, Cesare, Petrelli, Lucia, Rambaldo, Anna, Borean, Alessio, Capelli, Stefano, Filippi, Andrea, Romanato, Filippo, Parnigotto, Pier Paolo, Grandi, Claudio, De Caro, Raffaele, Porzionato, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 20-11-2019; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 13/107; 13/51; 14/69; 631/378/1687; 631/378/1959; Absorbable Implants; Animals; Biocompatibility; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Blood Platelets - chemistry; Cell Membrane - chemistry; Collagen; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Fibrin; Fibrin - chemistry; Humanities and Social Sciences; Inflammation; Leukocytes - chemistry; Microscopy; multidisciplinary; Nerve Regeneration; Nerve Tissue - cytology; Neurosurgical Procedures - methods; Peripheral Nerve Injuries - pathology; Peripheral Nerve Injuries - surgery; Peripheral nerves; Platelets; Polyvinyl alcohol; Polyvinyl Alcohol - administration & dosage; Polyvinyl Alcohol - chemistry; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Recovery of Function; Sciatic nerve; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53812-z

Nerve wrapping improves neurorrhaphy outcomes in case of peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs). The aim of this preclinical study was to assess the efficacy of two novel biodegradable wraps made of a synthetic 1% oxidized polyvinyl alcohol (OxPVA) and a natural leukocyte-fibrin-platelet membrane (LFPm)
versus
the commercial product NeuraWrap. After rats sciatic nerve transection and neurorrhaphy, the wraps were implanted and compared for functional outcome, by sciatic function index assessment; structural characteristics, by histological/immunohistochemical analysis; ultrastructural features, by transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, a morphometric study was also performed and collagen distribution was observed by Second Harmonic Generation microscopy. After 12 weeks from implantation, all wraps assured nerve function recovery; no scar tissue/neuromas were visible at dissection. LFPm wraps were completely resorbed, while residues of OxPVA and NeuraWrap were observed. In all groups, biocompatibility was confirmed by the absence of significant inflammatory infiltrate. According to histological/immunohistochemical analysis and morphometric findings, OxPVA and LFPm wraps were both effective in preserving nerve integrity. These results assess that bioengineered OxPVA and LFPm wraps successfully guarantee favorable lesion recovery after PNI/neurorrhaphy and, in future, may be considered an interesting alternative to the commercial NeuraWrap.