Figure 5.

Schwann cells combined the oriented electrospun poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/chitosan nanofibers for regeneration of sciatic nerve defects in rats.

(A) The PLGA/chitosan nanofiber mesh tubes were bridge-grafted into rat sciatic nerve defects (10 mm long). (B) At 3 months post-operatively, the degradable biomaterials used for the nerve defects were completely degraded and absorbed. The appearance of the nerve showed that neurogenesis had occurred, and defects were healed. (C) In the implantation group, hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed bundled regenerative nerve fibers that were highly vascularized. (D) In the control group, hematoxylin-eosin staining showed the regenerated axons were scattered in the loose connective tissue. Scale bar: 100 μm.