Bioadhesive Graft-Antenna for Stimulation and Repair of Peripheral Nerves

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel wireless bioadhesive graft-antenna that stimulates and repairs peripheral nerves, enhancing regeneration with minimal invasiveness using a TMS-powered system integrated into a chitosan scaffold.

Contribution

It presents an original wireless stimulator integrated into a bioadhesive scaffold for nerve repair, enabling non-suture attachment and effective nerve regeneration.

Findings

Graft-antenna successfully stimulated nerves for 12 weeks.

Stimulated nerves showed facilitated axon regeneration.

Device remained stable and did not migrate post-implantation.

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injuries are difficult to treat due to limited axon regeneration; brief electrical stimulation of injured nerves is an emerging therapy that can relieve pain and enhance regeneration. We report an original wireless stimulator based on a metal loop (diameter ~1 mm) that is powered by a transcranial magnetic stimulator (TMS). The loop can be integrated in a chitosan scaffold that functions as a graft when applied onto transected nerves (graft-antenna). The graft-antenna was bonded to rat sciatic nerves by a laser without sutures; it did not migrate after implantation and was able to trigger steady compound muscle action potentials for 12 weeks (CMAP ~1.3 mV). Eight weeks post-operatively, axon regeneration was facilitated in transected nerves that were repaired with the graft-antenna and stimulated by the TMS for 1 hour/week. The graft-antenna is an innovative and minimally-invasive device that functions concurrently as a wireless stimulator and adhesive scaffold for nerve repair.