Development of novel polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA)-based hydrogels for never regeneration

Abstract

Injury to the peripheral nervous system (PNS) affects more than 1,000,000 people worlwide a year. It is estimated that $150 billion is spent on nerve injury repair in the USA alone each year. The current surgical methods have several disadvantages, such as limited recovery, which presents a need for improved peripheral nerve repair.

Nerve guide conduits (NGCs) have been developed to overcome this problem by protecting the nerve from the surrounding tissue and promoting successful nerve regeneration.Synthetic polymers may be used to produce NCGs and must possess certain characteristics to be considered as a suitable material for nerve regeneration.