Proteomic comparison of biomaterial implants for regeneration of peripheral nerve tissue

Tissue regenerates resulting from the healing of transected peripheral nerve differ in morphological and electrophysiological properties based on the biomaterial implant used to bridge the interneural wound gap. At gap lengths >/=10 mm, impermeable silicone tubes promote little to no nerve regenerate unlike its porous, degradable collagen alternative. This study assayed rat sciatic nerve wounds treated with silicone and collagen tubes at a 14-day time point for concentration differences in transforming growth factor beta 1, 2, 3 (TGF [beta]1, [beta]2, and [beta]3) and alpha smooth muscle actin ([aipha] SMA) to measure disparities in proteins associated with wound healing that may determine nonregenerative from regenerative outcomes. Transected nerves treated with silicone or collagen tubes were compared on a "whole wound" basis to determine differences in protein expression over the entire tissue and on a "per segment" basis to determine local differences in protein expression over ~2-4 mm regions of tissue. Immunofluorescent comparisons of wounds were performed on cross sections taken along the length of the nerve. In each cross section, a region of interest (ROI) was defined from the periphery of the regenerate tissue to -65 gm radially inwards where presence of a contractile capsule was reported by earlier investigators and also observed in this study. A 200% increase in whole wound TGF [beta]3 levels in the collagen compared to the silicone treatment group was determined by immunoblot (p=0.0026). A 30-50% increase in whole wound TGF [beta]1 levels was found in the silicone compared to the collagen treatment group, which was statistically significant by only one of the two assays used (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; p=0.0021).

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Miu, Kathy K

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• loannis Yannas.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/55273

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/55273