Advanced tissue engineering systems to promote the functionality of cells derived from the peripheral nervous system in synthetic nerve conduits

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Severe peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) following traumas affect many people of the active population, thus creating a huge social-economical burden. The current gold standard for the repair of PNI with large gaps remains autograft, while short gap injuries can be treated with synthetic nerve conduits (SNCs). However, such SNCs generally lead to poor cell colonization, alignment and growth, which results in dysfunctional tissue regeneration and recovery. As an alternative, tissue engineering strategies are being developed to promote cell growth and guidance. Novel tissue engineering approaches now involve more advanced biomaterials with controlled structure and neurotrophic factors pre-seeded with glial or mesenchymal stem cells. However, those systems are usually restrained to static culture conditions, which limits the survival and growth rate of cells, and so the size of the SNCs. One approach to overcome those limitations would require the combination of such biomaterials with a dynamic culture system. Nonetheless, the impact of dynamic culture conditions on glial and neuronal cells and underlying behaviors using engineered scaffolds remains poorly understood. The proposed research program aims to study the effect of dynamic culture conditions on glial cells, stem cells and neuronal cells behavior seeded on composite SNCs having oriented micro-channels and embedded growth factors. The combination of a dynamic culture system, acute engineered biomaterials, and potent growth factors will provide a more accurate in vitro environment to study and optimize innovative tissue engineering strategies in the context of the peripheral nervous system. The proposed research program will enable the training of highly qualified personnel, who will benefit from a stimulating and interdisciplinary working environment. Throughout their formation, they will acquire a sought-after expertise by developing both fundamental (biochemistry) and applied knowledge (tissue engineering, applied neuroscience). This particular knowledge will give crucial insights for the development of a new generation of cell-biomaterial constructs that can be used in the future to facilitate or enhance current nerve regeneration treatments. It will contribute to reinforce the position of Canada in the domain of 3D culture systems and biomaterials.