[Advance of vascularization of tissue engineered peripheral nerve]

Abstract

Objective: To review the literature on the research status of vascularization of tissue engineered peripheral nerve so as to provide the theoretical basis for the vascularization of tissue engineered peripheral nerve.

Methods: The literature related to the vascularization of peripheral nerve tissue engineering in recent years was reviewed and summarized according to the five aspects of promoting vascularization: local microenvironment and blood supply characteristics of peripheral nerve regeneration, scaffold material modification, seed cells, autologous vascular bundle implantation, and pro-vascular factors.

Results: Tissue engineered peripheral nerve has brought a new hope for the repair of peripheral nerve injury, but the repair effect of large nerve defects is not good, which is mainly related to the degree of vascularization of the nerve grafts. So it is particularly important to promote the early vascularization of tissue engineered peripheral nerve. Previous studies have mainly focused on the four aspects of scaffold material modification, seed cells, autologous vascular bundle implantation, and angiogenesis related factors. Recent studies show that the combination of the above two or more factors in the tissue engineered peripheral nerves can better promote the vascularization of tissue engineered peripheral nerves.

Conclusion: Promoting early vascularization of tissue engineered peripheral nerves can provide timely nutritional support for seed cells on the scaffold, promote axon growth and nerve regeneration, and facilitate the repair of large peripheral nerve defects in clinical practice.

Keywords: Tissue engineered peripheral nerve; microenvironment; scaffold material; seed cells; vascularization.