Graphene-based hybrid materials as promising scaffolds for peripheral nerve regeneration

• Published in: Neurochemistry international Vol. 147; p. 105005
• Main Authors: Grijalvo, Santiago, Díaz, David Díaz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2021
• Subjects: Animals; Biomaterials; Graphene; Graphene oxide; Graphite - therapeutic use; Humans; Nerve Regeneration - drug effects; Nerve Regeneration - physiology; Peripheral Nerve Injuries - drug therapy; Peripheral nerve regeneration; Polymers; Reduced graphene oxide; Regenerative medicine; Schwann cells; Schwann Cells - drug effects; Sciatic Nerve - drug effects; Sciatic Nerve - pathology; Tissue engineering; Tissue Scaffolds; Peripheral nerve regeneration; Graphene; Regenerative medicine; Tissue engineering; Schwann cells; Graphene oxide; Reduced graphene oxide; Polymers; Biomaterials
• ISSN: 0197-0186; 1872-9754; 1872-9754
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105005

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a serious clinical health problem caused by the damage of peripheral nerves which results in neurological deficits and permanent disability. There are several factors that may cause PNI such as localized damage (car accident, trauma, electrical injury) and outbreak of the systemic diseases (autoimmune or diabetes). While various diagnostic procedures including X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as other type of examinations such as electromyography or nerve conduction studies have been efficiently developed, a full recovery in patients with PNI is in many cases deficient or incomplete. This is the reason why additional therapeutic strategies should be explored to favor a complete rehabilitation in order to get appropriate nerve injury regeneration. The use of biomaterials acting as scaffolds opens an interesting approach in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications due to their ability to guide the growth of new tissues, adhesion and proliferation of cells including the expression of bioactive signals. This review discusses the preparation and therapeutic strategies describing in vitro and in vivo experiments using graphene-based materials in the context of PNI and their ability to promote nerve tissue regeneration. •Peripheral nerve injuries result in neurological deficits and permanent disability.•A full recovery in patients with peripheral nerve injury is in many cases deficient or incomplete.•Graphene and its derivatives can be used for the preparation of scaffolds for neural tissue engineering.•The presence of graphene or derivatives in hybrid materials influences both cell adhesion and cell proliferation.