Advanced Fiber Materials, Volume. 6, Issue 3, 00352(2024)

3D Coaxially Printing rGO Aerogel-Based Biocompatible Fiber for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Jingxiang Zhang1,2、†, Zhongyang Liu3、†, Jing Wang4、†, Yang Zhang5、†, Jiaqi Dong1,2, Jianpeng Gao3, Licheng Zhang3, Jizeng Wang1,2、*, Peifu Tang3、**, and Qiangqiang Zhang1,2、***
Author Affiliations
  • 1Key Laboratory of Mechanics On Disaster and Environment in Western China and the Ministry of Education of China (Lanzhou University), Lanzhou, 730000, China
  • 2College of Civil Engineering and Mechanics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • 3Department of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
  • 4Department of Orthopaedic Oncology, Spinal Tumor Center, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
  • 5Department of Nephrology, The Second Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
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    In this study, we developed a hollow aerogel fiber out of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), with a hierarchically ordered microstructure through a three-dimensional coaxial printing methodology, that enabled a physicochemically cooperative construction process at multiscale. The rGO hollow aerogel fiber was modified by depositing polycaprolactone (PCL) and melatonin (Mel). Attributable to its elaborately designed hierarchical structure and arched alignment of two-dimensional micro-sheets, the rGO/PCL/Mel hybrid aerogel bio-fiber demonstrated remarkable structural robustness in maintaining ordered pathways and high porosity (98.5% ± 0.24%), which facilitated nerve growth in a complex survival environment in vivo. Furthermore, the excellent combination of properties such as electrical conductivity, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties (elastic modulus: 7.06 ± 0.81 MPa to 26.58 ± 4.99 MPa) led to highly efficient regeneration of well-ordered PN tissue. Systematic evaluations of nerve regeneration and muscle function recovery in a Sprague–Dawley rat model with a long nerve defect (15 mm) validated the virtually identical performance of the rGO/PCL/Mel fiber compared to autogenous nerve graft. This study suggests a promising approach to the clinical repair of long PN defects through the combined regulation of rational multiscale structure design and indispensable chemical modification of rGO aerogel-based functional nerve regeneration fibers.

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    Jingxiang Zhang, Zhongyang Liu, Jing Wang, Yang Zhang, Jiaqi Dong, Jianpeng Gao, Licheng Zhang, Jizeng Wang, Peifu Tang, Qiangqiang Zhang. 3D Coaxially Printing rGO Aerogel-Based Biocompatible Fiber for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration[J]. Advanced Fiber Materials, 2024, 6(3): 00352

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    Paper Information

    Category: Research Articles

    Received: Aug. 10, 2023

    Accepted: Nov. 21, 2023

    Published Online: Jul. 31, 2024

    The Author Email: Wang Jizeng (jzwang@lzu.edu.cn), Tang Peifu (pftang301@163.com), Zhang Qiangqiang (zhangqq@lzu.edu.cn)

    DOI:10.1007/s42765-023-00352-x

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