Rapid sciatic nerve regeneration of rats by a surface modified collagen–chitosan scaffold

In the previous study, we attempted to use a collagen–chitosan (CCH) scaffold to mimic the bio-functional peripheral nerve and to bridge sciatic nerve defects in rats. The results demonstrated that it could support and guide the nerve regeneration after three months. In the current study, a type of peptide which carried RGD sequences was connected to the CCH surface by a chemical method. After this process, the microtubule structure of the scaffold was not changed. Then the coated scaffolds were used to repair a 15 mm sciatic nerve defect in rats. Four weeks after implantation, linear growth of axons in the longitudinal structure was observed, and the number of regenerated axons remarkably increased. Two months later, the scaffold was partly absorbed and replaced by large quantity of regenerated axons. Importantly, the functional examinations also support the morphological results. Compared with the CCH group, all of the achievements revealed the superior function of RGD-CCH in the rapid regeneration of injured sciatic nerve.