Electrical Stimulation in Conjunction with Conductive MeCbl/PEDOT:PSS/HA-Based Hydrogels for Enhanced Peripheral Nerve Repair

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injury repair represents a substantial challenge in the medical field, primarily due to the limited regenerative capacity of the peripheral nerve system. Current research efforts are focused on developing advanced medical polymer materials to enhance nerve recovery. Despite significant progress, several critical issues remain unresolved, including biocompatibility, stability, mechanical strength, controlled degradation rates, and sustained release of therapeutic agents. This study examines the utilization of hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels, doped with mecobalamin (MeCbl) and conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), in combination with exogenous electrical stimulation (ES) for the repair of peripheral nerves in rats. The strategy utilizes the MeCbl hydrogel to create a regenerative microenvironment and provide nutritional support for nerve cells, while PEDOT:PSS facilitates enhanced electrical signal conduction. ES has been shown to promote nerve regeneration and functional recovery, thereby demonstrating considerable potential. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the synergistic effects and potential value of this combined therapeutic approach, providing novel insights and pathways for the effective repair of peripheral nerves.

Note:
Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFC2405805), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) U23A20490, Doctor of excellence program (DEP), The First Hospital of Jilin University (JDYY-DEP-2023026 and JDYY-DEP-2023027).

Conflict of Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Ethical Approval: This study was approved by the ethics committee at the first hospital of Jilin University. The date of approval was June 11, 2024. The approval number was 20240884.

Keywords: Peripheral nerve repair, Hydrogel, Conductive coating, Mecobalamin, Electrical stimulation