Systems and methods for reconstruction of nerve defects
AssigneeUniversity of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
InventorsKacey Gribbin Marra, Jacqueline Bliley
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Abstract
Composite nerve guides for nerve regeneration are provided, wherein the composite guide comprise a nerve graft and a nerve conduit continuing an active agent that promote axon regeneration. The devices can provide structural supports to guide nerve regeneration and locally deliver an active agent (e.g., glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and/or glial growth factor 2 (GGF2) to injured nervous system tissue upon implantation in a subject. Methods of treatment using such devices are also provided.
Claims24
A composite nerve guide for reconstruction of a nerve defect comprising:
- (a) an outer nerve conduit;
- and
- (b) an inner nerve graft.
The composite nerve guide of claim 11, wherein the acellular nerve graft is decellularized by a combination of treatments including gamma irradiation, mechanical deceulluarization and detergent-processing.
A method of promoting nerve generation comprising implanting a composite nerve guide including:
- (a) an outer nerve conduit;
- and
- (b) an inner nerve structure.
The method of promoting nerve generation of claim 19, wherein the neurotrophic factor is selected from the group consisting of a glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a glial growth factor 2 (GGF2), and a combination thereof.
The method of promoting nerve generation of claim 23, wherein the acellular nerve graft is decellularized by a combination of treatments including gamma irradiation, mechanical decelluarization and detergent-processing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.