Functionalized Collagen Scaffolds for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Despite the robust regenerative potential of the peripheral nervous system, a permanent loss of function is often associated with injury. A multitude of causes have been implicated in this outcome, including the presence of a non-permissive microenvironment surrounding the injury and the regrowth of emerging neurites towards inappropriate targets. Preferential motor reinnervation is a naturally occurring phenomenon where motor axons have increased accuracy in reaching their appropriate end targets as the course of regeneration proceeds¹. Several molecules have been implicated in encouraging this response, including two carbohydrates — Polysialic Acid (PSA) and Human Natural Killer Epitope-1 (HNK-1)^2,3. Peptide mimics of these molecules have been identified^4,5, which are more stable and economical than their glycan counterparts, and have independently been shown to enhance PMR in a soluble form, but only for transection distances substantially smaller than the 5-mm ‘critical gap’ size for mice^6,7.