NeuraGen, NeuroFlex and Reaxon Inhibit Cell Migration and Proliferation: A Comparison of Three Approved Synthetic Nerve Conduits
Flavia Millesi, MSc1, Sascha Mero, MD2, Sebastian Rihl, cand.med.3, Sophie Steinwenter, BA3, Sarah Stadlmayr, MSc4, Anton Borger, MD3, Paul Supper, MD2, Maximilian Haertinger, MSc3, Leon Ploszczanski, MA, Mag. rer. nat.5, Gerhard Sinn, Dipl.-Ing. Dr.5, Aida Naghilou, PhD1, Lorenz Semmler, MD1 and Christine Radtke, MD, MBA, FEBOPRAS2, 1Medical University Of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 2Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 3Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 4Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria, 5University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Nerve conduits offer a good alternative to autologous nerve grafts to circumvent donor morbidity. A handful of commercially available conduits are approved and are used regularly in the clinical setting. Nevertheless, no systematic in vitro comparison of these nerve conduits has ever been performed.
This project compared three of the most commonly used nerve conduits; the collagen conduits NeuraGenTM (IntegraTM), NeuroFlexTM (Collagen MatrixTM) and the chitosan conduit ReaxonTM (MedoventTM). Schwann cells and neural fibroblasts were cultured on the conduits’ surface and live cell imaging and immunofluorescence staining were performed. Additionally, the material properties of the three conduits were investigated.
The results showed that all three conduits significantly inhibited cell migration and proliferation in comparison to the control. Within the three conduits, cells migrated best on the NeuroFlexTM collagen conduit. The material analyses revealed significant differences between the three conduits; Both collagen conduits showed a highly fibrous nature, although the collagen fibres in NeuraGenTM were more densely packed. In contrast ReaxonTM exhibited a very smooth surface. Moreover, whereas ReaxonTM endured the highest strength and showed a very brittle nature, NeuroFlex was able to strain to almost double its length before breaking.
These results demonstrate the importance of performing in vitro experiments prior to in vivo application. Furthermore, the experiments shed light on why empty nerve conduits are still not an equivalent alternative to autologous nerve grafts.
Back to 2024 Abstracts