2. Academic Validation
  3. 3D printing of Y-27632 enhanced elastic hydrogel conduits for peripheral nerve repair

3D printing of Y-27632 enhanced elastic hydrogel conduits for peripheral nerve repair

  • Biomater Adv. 2025 Dec 26:182:214679. doi: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2025.214679.
Wenbi Wu 1,  Haofan Liu 2,  Jiamei Zhang 2,  Yinchu Dong 2,  Min Peng 2,  Qi Zhu 2,  Yi Zhang 2,  Wei Zhao 2,  Li Zhang 2,  Ya Ren 2,  Jinlu Liu 3,  Boya Li 2,  Wentao Li 2,  Yu Hu 4,  Jingzhu Duan 5,  Maling Gou 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China; Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
  • 2 Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
  • 3 Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China hospital of Sichuan University, China.
  • 4 Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan province, China.
  • 5 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 6 Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41499859 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2025.214679
Abstract

Nerve guide conduits provide an advanced tool for peripheral nerve repair, but their efficacy remains limited due to suboptimal axon regeneration. Y-27632, a ROCK Inhibitor, has the potential to promote axon regeneration and functional restoration. Here, we show a Y-27632 enhanced elastic hydrogel conduit for effective nerve repair. The conduit comprised of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)/silk fibroin methacryloyl (SF-MA) hydrogels with Y-27632 loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanoparticles, is rapidly fabricated by a continuous 3D printing process. The drug Y-27632 can be sustainedly released from the conduits to promote neurite elongation. Meanwhile, the bioactive gelatin/fibroin hydrogels can facilitate Schwann cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration. Moreover, the elastic hydrogel conduit can be surgically sutured with nerve stumps to bridge nerve defects. At 16 weeks post-surgery, this conduit efficiently promotes axon regeneration and remyelination, facilitates muscle re-innervation, and enhances functional recovery in a 12 mm nerve defect model. These findings implicate that elastic hydrogel conduits with Y-27632 release would provide a promising therapeutic strategy for long-gap peripheral nerve defects.

Keywords

3D printing; Drug nanoparticle; Nerve guide conduit; Peripheral nerve injury.

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