Conduits harnessing spatially controlled cell-secreted neurotrophic factors improve peripheral nerve regeneration.

An essential structure in nerve regeneration within engineered conduits is the "nerve bridge" initiated by centrally migrating Schwann cells in response to chemokine gradients. Introducing exogenous cells secreting neurotrophic factors aims to augment this repair process, but conventional cell-seeding methods fail to produce a directional chemokine gradient. We report a versatile method to encapsulate cells within conduit walls, allowing for reproducible control of spatial distribution along the conduit.