Nanofibrous conduits for nerve regeneration

Abstract

A hollow fibrous conduit for promoting regeneration of a severed nerve, comprising a first end for coapting the conduit to a first end of a severed nerve and second end for coapting the conduit to a second end of the severed nerve, the hollow fibrous conduit comprising chitosan-poly(caprolactone) fibers. Methods for making the conduit and methods for using the conduit for nerve regeneration.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method for promoting tissue regeneration, comprising:
 preparing a substrate comprising chitosan-poly(caprolactone) nanofibers comprising from about 20 to about 80 percent by weight chitosan and from about 80 to about 20 percent by weight poly(caprolactone); and   incubating cells with the substrate to promote attachment of the cells to the substrate and to promote cell growth and proliferation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a fibrous mat. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate retains sufficient cellular compatibility for the preservation of cell functionality and growth. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells incubated with the substrate are suitable for use in tendon, ligament, bone, cartilage, skin, blood vessel, and muscle tissue engineering. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the cells incubated with the substrate are myogenic cells for use in muscle tissue engineering. 
     
     
         6 . A method for making a nanofibrous substrate, comprising:
 generating an electrostatic field between a first electrode and a second electrode; and   electrospinning a solution of chitosan and poly(caprolactone) onto a spindle intermediate the first and second electrodes to provide a nanofibrous substrate comprising chitosan-poly(caprolactone) fibers.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the chitosan has an average molecular weight of from about 50 to about 1000 kDa. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the chitosan has a degree of deacetylation of from about 75 to about 80 percent. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the poly(caprolactone) has an average molecular weight of from about 20 to about 100 kDa. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the poly(caprolactone) has an average molecular weight of from about 70 to about 90 kDa. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the solution comprises from about 20 to about 80 percent by weight chitosan based on the total weight of the solution. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the solution comprises from about 20 to about 80 percent by weight poly(caprolactone) based on the total weight of the solution. 
     
     
         13 . A nanofibrous substrate produced by the method of  claim 6 .