A collagen-based nerve guidance conduit containing functional Schwann cell precursor-like cells derived from stem cells for the rapid treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. 

A peripheral nerve injury (PNI) occurs in approximately 3% of all trauma patients. While treatment options for PNIs have improved with advances in microsurgical techniques and development of nerve guidance conduits, less than 50% of PNIs show full functional recovery. The current gold standard of treatment for PNI is the use of nerve autografts, which is further limited by the availability of nerve sources, donor/recipient mismatch, and severe donor‐site morbidity associated with secondary surgical procedure.

Schwann cells are peripheral nervous system glial cells that make myelin around axons. Schwann cells play a critical role in repairing damage to the peripheral nervous system related to axonal regrowth during nerve repair and regeneration.

The Le group has developed a method of generating functionalized nerve guidance conduits for use in repairing PNIs. This method utilizes mesenchymal stem cells from gingiva tissue (GMSC) of a neural crest-origin and converts them into neural crest stem-like (NCSC) or Schwann cell precursor (SCP)-like cells encapsulated and cultured in 3D-collagen hydrogel.

Whereas nerve guidance conduits in combination with various types of supportive cells have previously been tested for repairing PNIs, their success has varied due to a lack of uniformity in their cellular makeup and matrix embedding. GMSC-laden collagen hydrogels offer an improved approach for direct conversion of GMSCs into NCSC/SCP-like cells with the capability to trans-migrate and integrate into the aligned wall matrix of natural nerve, forming a functionalized nerve guidance conduit with unique capability for PNI regeneration and functional recovery as demonstrated in the crush-injured rat sciatic nerve model.

• Fewer donor/recipient mismatch issues expected
• Enhanced capability to differentiate into Schwann-like cells
• Shorter time interval for differentiation into Schwann-like cells
• Mesenchymal stem cells from gingiva are more proliferative than those from bone marrow

Treatment of peripheral nerve injuries