An electrospun nerve wrap comprising Bletilla striata polysaccharide with dual function for nerve regeneration and scar prevention

Peripheral nerve injuries mainly occur in the extremities and result in functional deficits, and recovery after microsurgical repair is slow (<1 mm/day) and frustrating. To improve the results of nerve repair, it is crucial to promote local Schwann cell (SC) function, neurite outgrowth, and to reduce perineural adhesion. In this study, a nerve wrap electrospun with Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) was designed to wrap around the repaired nerve to achieve the goal. In SC proliferation/migration tests and neurite outgrowth assay, BSP/WPU revealed considerable improvement. In rabbit sciatic nerve repair model, BSP/WPU exhibited significantly higher compound muscle action potential, muscle contraction force, and reduced perineural adhesion. The downstream fascicles of the BSP/WPU group exhibited a 50 % increase in diameter and 100 % increase in myelin thickness compared with the control group. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicated the positive effect of BSP/WPU nerve wrap on nerve regeneration.