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Polypyrrole - A Potential Candidate for Stimulated Nerve Regeneration

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Abstract

The proposed research is aimed at gaining a fundamental understanding of in vitro nerve cell-biomaterials interactions, with the immediate goal of engineering materials to specifically enhance expression of the neuronal phenotype. Long term goals include (1) optimizing the innervation (connection) of the host neurons with implanted bioartificial tissue constructs and, (2) facilitating the regeneration of damaged peripheral and central nerves. In this study, the interactions of neuronal like PC-12 cells with the electrically conducting polymer, polypyrrole, (PP) have been investigated. It has been shown by quantitative image analysis that neurite extensions of PC-12 cells are more pronounced on PP surfaces as compared to tissue culture polystyrene. Application of an electrical stimulus to cells cultured on PP film significantly increased (based on morphological evaluation) the expression of neuntes in these cells compared to controls. Tissue compatibility and transected sciatic nerve regeneration studies in rat models show that PP films invoke little negative response and support nerve regeneration.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Advanced Tissue Sciences and NIH through a fellowship to CES for their support of this work. The authors would also wish to thank Nora Chen and Isaac George for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    V. R. Shastri, C. E. Schmidt & R. Langer

  2. Harvard University, Department of Surgery, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    T.-H. Kim, J. P. Vacanti & R. Langer

Authors
  1. V. R. Shastri
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  2. C. E. Schmidt
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  3. T.-H. Kim
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  4. J. P. Vacanti
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  5. R. Langer
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Shastri, V.R., Schmidt, C.E., Kim, TH. et al. Polypyrrole - A Potential Candidate for Stimulated Nerve Regeneration. MRS Online Proceedings Library 414, 113–118 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-414-113

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/PROC-414-113

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