Autologous Fascia Nerve Wrap in a Rodent Primary Epineurial Repair Model and Preliminary Case Series.

Background: Nerve wraps composed of various autologous and bioengineered materials have been used to bolster nerve repair sites. In this study, we describe the novel use of autologous fascia nerve wraps (AFNW) as an adjunct to epineurial repair and evaluate their effect on inflammatory cytokine expression, intraneural collagen deposition and end-organ reinnervation in rats and use of AFNW in a patient case series.

Methods: Lewis rats received sciatic transection with repair either with or without AFNW, sciatic-to-common peroneal nerve transfer with or without AFNW, or sham surgery (n=14/group).

Supramolecular assembly of polycation/mRNA nanoparticles and in vivo monocyte programming.

Size-dependent phagocytosis is a well-characterized phenomenon in monocytes and macrophages. However, this size effect for preferential gene delivery to these important cell targets has not been fully exploited because commonly adopted stabilization methods for electrostatically complexed nucleic acid nanoparticles, such as PEGylation and charge repulsion, typically arrest the vehicle size below 200 nm. Here, we bridge the technical gap in scalable synthesis of larger submicron gene delivery vehicles by electrostatic self-assembly of charged nanoparticles, facilitated by a polymer structurally designed to modulate internanoparticle Coulombic and van der Waals forces.

Translational bioengineering strategies for peripheral nerve regeneration: opportunities, challenges, and novel concepts.

Peripheral nerve injuries remain a challenging problem in need of better treatment strategies. Despite best efforts at surgical reconstruction and postoperative rehabilitation, patients are often left with persistent, debilitating motor and sensory deficits. There are currently no therapeutic strategies proven to enhance the regenerative process in humans.

Payload distribution and capacity of mRNA lipid nanoparticles.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are effective vehicles to deliver mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. It has been challenging to assess mRNA packaging characteristics in LNPs, including payload distribution and capacity, which are critical to understanding structure-property-function relationships for further carrier development. Here, we report a method based on the multi-laser cylindrical illumination confocal spectroscopy (CICS) technique to examine mRNA and lipid contents in LNP formulations at the single-nanoparticle level.

Sustained IGF-1 delivery ameliorates effects of chronic denervation and improves functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury and repair.

Functional recovery following peripheral nerve injury is limited by progressive atrophy of denervated muscle and Schwann cells (SCs) that occurs during the long regenerative period prior to end-organ reinnervation. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a potent mitogen with well-described trophic and anti-apoptotic effects on neurons, myocytes, and SCs. Achieving sustained, targeted delivery of small protein therapeutics remains a challenge.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1: A Promising Therapeutic Target for Peripheral Nerve Injury.

Patients who sustain peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) are often left with debilitating sensory and motor loss. Presently, there is a lack of clinically available therapeutics that can be given as an adjunct to surgical repair to enhance the regenerative process. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) represents a promising therapeutic target to meet this need, given its well-described trophic and anti-apoptotic effects on neurons, Schwann cells (SCs), and myocytes.