- The tiny devices act as 'scaffolding' for the nerves - then simply dissolve
By Ted Thornhill
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Patients with severely injured limbs often suffer a devastating loss of sensation â" but help is on the way thanks to a medical breakthrough pioneered by British scientists.
They have designed, along with German engineers, computer-generated implants that help nerves rewire themselves, which could improve the chances of restoring movement and feeling in damaged arms and legs - even those that have been severed off altogether.
The ânerve guidance conduitsâ (NGCs) were produced with a laser technique normally used to âwriteâ complex electrical circuits.
Size matters: Scanning electron microscope image of the dissolvable computer-generated nerve scaffolding
Made from a form of biodegradable plastic, they guide regrowing nerve fibres through individual channels to aid recovery. Once the nerves are fully regrown and reconnected, the device dissolves away.
The researchers explained that surgeons have always been very good at reattaching bone and muscle, but the problem has always been in attaching the nerves.
Bioengineer Professor John Haycock, from the University of Sheffield, said: âWhen nerves in the arms or legs are injured they have the ability to regrow, unlike in the spinal cord, however, they need assistance to do this.
âWe are designing scaffold implants that can bridge an injury site and provide a range of physical and chemical cues for stimulating this regrowth.â
Big on small ideas: University of Sheffield's Dr Frederik Claeyssens, who helped develop the implants
Laboratory tests of the implants have shown that nerves will grow naturally through the channelled structure. The researchers, whose work is reported in the journal Biofabrication, are working towards clinical trials. They hope to apply the technology to a wide range of peripheral nerve injuries.
Co-author Dr Frederik Claeyssens, from the University of Sheffield's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, said: âNerves aren't just like one long cable, they're made up of lots of small cables, similar to how an electrical wire is constructed.
âUsing our new technique we can make a conduit with individual strands so the nerve fibres can form a similar structure to an undamaged nerve.â
Ultimately NGCs might be developed that help in the treatment of spinal cord injury, said Dr Claeyssens.
He added: âWhat's exciting about this work is that not only have we designed a new method for making nerve guide scaffolds which support nerve growth, w e've also developed a method of easily reproducing them through micromoulding.
âThis technology could make a huge difference to patients suffering severe nerve damage.â
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We lead the world in medical research.pity NICE stops us benefitting from it.
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We lead the world in medical research.pity NICE stops us benefitting from it.
Report abuse
We lead the world in medical research.pity NICE stops us benefitting from it.
Report abuse
We lead the world in medical research.pity NICE stops us benefitting from it.
Report abuse
We lead the world in medical research.pity NICE stops us benefitting from it.
Report abuse
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