Researchers repair nerves with silicone implant from 3D printer

A group of scientists has found a way to restore nerve pathways. Using 3D imaging and then building an implant with a 3D printer, neural functions could be restored. That offers perspective for people with paralysis.

A description of the conducted study has been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. These are experiments that have been conducted with rats, so it is still unclear whether the method works in patients and it may take years before the method finds its way into the clinic.

In their experiments, researchers from several American universities tried to repair damaged nerves in rats. This is usually difficult because nerve cells are hardly repaired by the body itself, which can lead to permanent damage, such as paralysis. The researchers tried to encourage the body to repair so-called neurons by releasing signal substances in the body.

By first using a 3D scanner, it was possible to find out what shape the implant should have. In this case it concerned the structure of the so-called sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in the body and contains many neuronal bundles for controlling bodily functions. The structure of this nerve was recreated with a 3D printer and then the custom-made implant, which was built with silicone containing signal substances, was inserted into rats that suffered from paralysis because their nerves had been cut.

In their publication, the scientists describe that the physical and biochemical signals from the implant in the conscious nerve repaired both neurons with sensory and motor function. This resulted in the rats receiving the implant treatment being able to walk better over time.

According to the authors, their method shows that a treatment method that is based on making a 3D model of the damaged tissue and then making an implant for it with a 3D printer may help patients with paralysis. However, it is necessary for the concept to be tested on humans before it becomes clear whether it actually works. The scientists have also chosen to use a large nerve in their experiments, so it is not clear whether the method also works equally well with smaller nerves.