Table 1.

The most significant natural and synthetic polymers utilized in nerve tissue engineering.

Polymer	Source	Property	References
Collagen	Natural	Collagen, which has a triple helix structure, a smooth microgeometry, and high permeability (approximately D 100,000), is the primary component of the extracellular matrix.	Yu et al. (2011), Song et al. (2016), Fertala et al. (2020), and Yuan et al. (2023)
Chitosan	Natural	Chitosan, a versatile polymer derived from glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine, offers biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, affordability, and adaptability for tissue regeneration in various forms like films, scaffolds, hydrogels, and membranes.	Wang et al. (2005)
CMC	Natural	Carboxymethylchitosan: Amphoteric polyelectrolyte, OH/NH2/COOH groups, antibacterial, antioxidant, apoptosis inhibitor.	Zhang et al. (2022b)
PLCL	Synthetic	High flexibility, rapid decomposition, and low glass transition temperature (approximately −60) are all characteristics of the semi-crystalline polymer known as PLCL.	Bachtiar et al. (2021)
PHAS	Natural	This material is a biodegradable, biocompatible, and thermoplastic biological polyester.	Williams et al. (1999)
PHB	Natural	PHB is a bacterial storage product that may be converted into sheets, particles, and absorbent films. It also has the capacity to increase the number of Schwann cells.	Hazari et al. (1999)
PHBV	Natural	Among the qualities of PHBV are its capacity to modify physical properties, process them in various ways, increase flexibility, and lower the glass transition and melting temperatures in copolymer structures.	Biazar and Heidari Keshel (2013)
Gelatin	Natural	This denatured collagen-based polymer accelerates nerve transmission, boosts axon quantity, and prevents internal connective tissue growth in nerve conduits.	Chen et al. (2005)
Fibronectin	Natural	This disulfide glycoprotein, one of the key components of the ECM, has the power to improve cell adherence, morphology, migration, and neural development.	Ahmed and Brown (1999)
SF	Natural	A fibrous protein from worm and butterfly glands, it’s highly elastic, mechanically strong, with a high modulus, and biocompatible and biodegradable.	Schacht and Scheibel (2014)
Creatine	Natural	This polymer can induce nerves.	Sierpinski et al. (2008)
HA	Natural	Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a biocompatible polymer with high water retention, low immunogenicity, and the ability to bind to specific cell surface receptors. It can take various forms, including viscoelastic solutions, hydrogels, sheets, and nanoparticles, and enhances progenitor cell and NSC adhesion due to its unique properties.	Burdick and Prestwich (2011)
PLA	Synthetic	This polymer, derived from lactic acid (from sources like sugar beet, corn, or wheat), offers biocompatibility, thermoplasticity, strong mechanical resistance, excellent biodegradability, and the ability to accelerate regeneration and functional recovery in sciatic nerve injuries.	Zeng et al. (2015) and Mao et al. (2023)
PLLA	Synthetic	The conduits created by PLLA are extremely porous with an interconnected pore structure and have a regular and highly crystalline.	Evans et al. (1999)
PGA	Synthetic	It belongs to a class of polyesters that are rigid, thermoplastic, highly crystalline, have a high tensile modulus, and have very little solubility in organic solvents.	Lee et al. (2017) and Li et al. (2023)
PLGA	Synthetic	It is a co-polyester that is simple to manufacture, has a minimal inflammatory reaction, and can adapt for axonal growth and nervous system regeneration.	Mir et al. (2017)
PCL	Synthetic	A polyester that is highly soluble in organic solvents, has a glass transition temperature of about (−60), and has a low melting temperature of 55 to 60.	Bolaina-Lorenzo et al. (2016) and Lu et al. (2023)
PU	Synthetic	Many medical devices, including nerve conduits, are made using a polymer having a structure made of urethane linkages. Additionally, this polymer can regrow myelinated neurons.	Gautam et al. (2007)
PVA	Synthetic	The properties of this polymer include a biocompatible crystalline structure, solubility in water, non-degradability, non-toxicity on axon formation, biodegradability, hydrophilic nature, and swelling ability.	Gaaz et al. (2015)
HYAFF	Synthetic	It is one of the hyaluronic acid derivatives that is created when hyaluronic acid is esterified with benzyl ester. One of the characteristics of this polymer is its capacity to process in many forms while also promoting the proliferation of various cell types.	Wang et al. (2012)
PPY	Synthetic	Among this polymer’s characteristics are its capacity to promote cell adhesion, biodegradability, conductivity, insolubility, poor stability, non-allergenicity, non-mutagenicity, and insolubility.	Liu et al. (2015)
PANI	Synthetic	Conductivity, the capacity to promote adhesion, proliferating cells, and neurite development are only a few of this polymer’s attributes.	Alhosseini et al. (2012)
PEDOT	Synthetic	This polymer contains characteristics like conductivity, and the capacity to promote adhesion, proliferation, and neurite development.	Xie et al. (2009)
CNT	Synthetic	Among the properties of this polymer are conductivity, inherent pressure absorption capacity, induction of conductivity, the capacity to promote adhesion, and the capacity to lengthen dendrites.	Huang et al. (2010) and Pi et al. (2022)
Lignin	Synthetic	This polymer is recognized for its branched structure, molecular mass, high carbon content, exceptional hardness, low density, antioxidant activity, and biodegradability.	Amini et al. (2021)
Silicon	Synthetic	This polymer’s attributes include biocompatibility, flexibility, and accessibility in a variety of diameters.	Ozdil and Aydin (2014)
Albumin	Natural	This water-soluble protein, making up around 50% of blood plasma mass, transports fatty acids and regulates blood pH. It has biocompatibility, biodegradability, weak mechanical properties, and can be formed into nanoparticles, microparticles, and fibers.	Eschbach (2000)
PEEK	Synthetic	A linear, aliphatic, semi-crystalline polymer with a melting point of 334 and good wear resistance, PEEK has high efficiency. Its Young’s modulus is around 3.7 Gpa, and its maximum tensile strength is 100 MPa.	Eschbach (2000)