A team of researchers from various universities in U.S has developed a first-of-its-kind, 3D-printed guide that helps regrow both the sensory and motor functions of complex nerves after injury. The groundbreaking research has the potential to help more than 200,000 people annually who experience nerve injuries or disease.
Nerve regeneration is a complex process. Because of this complexity, regrowth of nerves after injury or disease is very rare
Nerve damage is often permanent. Advanced 3D printing methods may now be the solution.
The researchers used a combination of 3D imaging and 3D printing techniques to create a custom silicone guide implanted with biochemical cues to help nerve regeneration. The guide’s effectiveness was tested in the lab using rats.
To achieve their results, researchers used a 3D scanner to reverse engineer the structure of a rat’s sciatic nerve. They then used a specialized, custom-built 3D printer to print a guide for regeneration. Incorporated into the guide were 3D-printed chemical cues to promote both motor and sensory nerve regeneration. The guide was then implanted into the rat by surgically grafting it to the cut ends of the nerve. Within about 10 to 12 weeks, the rat’s ability to walk again was improved.
Scanning and printing takes about an hour, but the body needs several weeks to regrow the nerves
previous studies have shown regrowth of linear nerves, but this is the first time a study has shown the creation of a custom guide for regrowth of a complex nerve like the Y-shaped sciatic nerve that has both sensory and motor branches.
The exciting next step would be to implant these guides in humans rather than rats
In cases where a nerve is unavailable for scanning, the researcher said there could someday be a “library” of scanned nerves from other people that hospitals could use to create closely matched 3D-printed guides for patients.
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