Natural and synthetic polymeric scaffolds used in peripheral nerve tissue engineering: Advantages and disadvantages

Abstract

The nervous system is a compound network of nerves, cells and is a vital part of the body. The injuries to this system can occur either via traumatic hurt happening after the accident, disease, tumorous outgrowth, or surgical side results. The regeneration of the nervous system is complex and takes big challenges to researchers. Nerve tissue engineering (NTE) is the most promising approach to repair nerve tissue in human health care. One of the most common solutions widely used for repairing functions in damaged neural tissues utilizes polymeric materials either natural or synthetic in origin. Polymers are able to develop into help structures, such as scaffold, electrospun matrices, and nerve conduit for promoting the regeneration of the damaged neural tissues that many investigations have shown. As usual, synthetic polymers suggest better structural stability and mechanical properties while natural polymers are highly useful for their high biocompatibility and natural biodegradation properties. However, low mechanical characteristics, processing difficulties and, thermal sensitivity that commonly need the use of solvents, limit the efficacy of natural polymers, stimulating researchers to blend them with synthetic or electroconductive polymers. Mostly, the blending of natural and synthetic allows for expanding polymeric conduits that help to mimic the substrate environment of healthy neural tissues. This review represents the most advanced and various recent findings in terms of the forms of natural and Synthetic polymers used in peripheral NTE, advantages, and disadvantages.