Development of Electroconductive Nerve Guidance Conduits with Gradient Conductivity — The Association Specialists
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  3. Development of Electroconductive Nerve Guidance Conduits with Gradient Conductivity

Development of Electroconductive Nerve Guidance Conduits with Gradient Conductivity (21493)

Chi Pang Tai 1 , Iyer Swaminathan 2 3 , Ming-Hao Zheng 1 2 , Priya Kaluskar 1 2 4
  1. Bone and brain axis group, Perron Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
  2. Univesity of Western Autralia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
  3. School of Molecular Sciences, the University of Western Australia, ARC Training Centre for Next-Gen Technologies in Biomedical Analysis , Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  4. Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, ARC Training Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Objective:

The efficacy of peripheral nerve repair (PNR) remains inconsistent. External stimulation and guidance improves regeneration. This study developed electroconductive gradients using PEDOT: PSS and Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on topologically cued nerve guidance conduits (NGC) for electrical stimulation.

Methods:

AuNPs were generated in situ, and PEDOT: PSS were deposited on the conduit. Electroconductive gradients were achieved, conductivity was evaluated using a four-point probe, live dead, and MTS assays assessed biocompatibility. SEM, TEM, and MS-ICP were used to characterise the particles.

Results:

AuNPs generated by HAuCl4, and sodium citrate (SC) were ~50nm (TEM) with 5.8 x 1011 particles/mL concentration (ICP). As particles were unevenly distributed (SEM), AuNPs were generated in situ on the collagen conduit. 0.01M SC was added with 2.5 mM HAuCl4 and incubated on collagen conduit overnight at 37°C. With a 6.5 x 106/mm2 concentration, spherical NPs of size ~18-30nm (SEM) formed. < 0.01 ppm (ICP) particles released over 13 hrs. The sheet resistance of the AuNPs collagen conduit was ~8KΩ/square. Biocompatibility assay showed no significant difference in viability. The morphology of the cells in both the conduits was elongated. Electroconductive gradients showed four distinct conductivity regions from 0.75 S/m - to 2.0 S/m, depending on the AuNPs concentration.

Conclusion:

An epineurium-like electroconductive NGC was generated to hold electrical stimulation and align neuronal cells. A novel in situ method to develop NPs generated electroconductive gradients. This study will explore the behaviour of neuronal cells on electroconductive gradients and topological cues for PNR.