2. Academic Validation
  3. Electrically conductive and anti-inflammatory nerve conduits based on chitosan/hydroxyethyl cellulose hydrogel for enhanced peripheral nerve regeneration

Electrically conductive and anti-inflammatory nerve conduits based on chitosan/hydroxyethyl cellulose hydrogel for enhanced peripheral nerve regeneration

  • Carbohydr Polym. 2025 Nov 15;368(Pt 2):124178. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.124178.
Jiahui Song 1,  Chenlong Liao 2,  Zhengchao Yuan 1,  Xiao Yu 1,  Jie Cui 1,  Yangfan Ding 1,  Panpan Shang 3,  Jinglei Wu 1,  Binbin Sun 1,  Mohamed El-Newehy 4,  Meera Moydeen Abdulhameed 4,  Wenchuan Zhang 5,  Gen Wen 6,  Shichao Jiang 7,  Xiumei Mo 8
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
  • 2 Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200240, China.
  • 3 Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedicine, School of Food and Pharmacy, Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University, Shanghai 201514, China.
  • 4 Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
  • 5 Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200240, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 6 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Center for Orthopaedic Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 7 Department of Orthopedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 8 State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China; Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedicine, School of Food and Pharmacy, Shanghai Zhongqiao Vocational and Technical University, Shanghai 201514, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 40947260 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.124178
Abstract

Nerve guiding catheters (NGCs) are crucial for peripheral nerve repair, providing physical guidance and establishing a conducive microenvironment to nerve regeneration. In this study, we developed a bifunctional CS-HEC@PEDOT/SIM (CHPS) hydrogel-filled electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) conduit. The hydrogel matrix was fabricated using chitosan (CS) and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) as the base Materials, which exhibited excellent biocompatibility and degradability. Conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was synthesized in situ within the matrix to establish stable electrostatic interactions with HEC, enhancing the electrical conductivity of the system. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory simvastatin (SIM) was uniformly dispersed throughout the hydrogel network through an optimized activation procedure. In vitro, the CHPS hydrogel exhibited promising electrical conductivity and sustained anti-inflammatory drug release. Furthermore, they supported neural cell proliferation and M2 macrophage polarization. In vivo, the CHPS hydrogel-filled conduits may create a favorable environment for electrical conductivity and inflammatory regulation, potentially promoting sciatic nerve regeneration in rats and facilitating partial recovery of motor function and nerve conduction. In conclusion, this approach may offer substantial potential for advancing nerve repair strategies and inspiring future clinical applications in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries.

Keywords

Anti-inflammatory drug; Conductive hydrogel; Electrospinning; Nerve regeneration.

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