Effect of Bio-Cellulose + Graphene Graft and Adipose Stem Cell on Axonal Regeneration in Experimental Sciatic Nerve Injury

Abstract

Abstract Background Peripheral nervous system injuries cause catastrophic burdens due to the developing loss of function. The most limiting situation in the treatment of injuries is the low ability of the central nervous system to regenerate itself, and most of these damages are irreversible. Aim In this study; we aimed to elucidate the effect of in-vitro application of a scaffold of bio-cellulose and graphene oxide (BC + GO) mixture on the axonal healing potential after experimentally induced sciatic nerve injury in Wistar rats, alone or in combination with mesenchymal stem cells taken from rat viscera. Materials and Methods This experimental, prospective, randomized study was conducted on 27 male Wistar rats. They were evaluated into three groups, with nine in each group as Group 1 (autograft group), Group 2 (Graft group), and Group 3 (Graft + SC group). Sciatic nerve function index (SFI), EMG, and histo-pathology evaluation were performed at the end of the 8th week. Results There was no significant difference in SFI results within the three groups. In the case of EMG, there was a statistically significant difference among the first-month CMAP results of groups. First-month CMAP results of graft and graft + SC groups were significantly higher than the autograft group (p = 0.0046). During macroscopic observation, graft and graft + SC groups had abundant adhesions around the grafted site. On histo-morphology and immuno-histochemistry, regenerative findings were obtained in all three groups. The autograft group had no inflammatory response, while the graft group had the highest inflammation and degeneration. In the graft + SC group there were less inflammation than second one, which is a finding thought to be related with immunmodulatory effects of MSCs. Conclusion BS + GO graft might be useful in the first weeks of regeneration, but this wasn’t sustained in the long-term regenerative findings due to intense inflammatory response and loss of regenerated axonal structures.