Nerve cells can benefit of chitosan in many different ways. Chitosan and their derivatives show neuroprotective properties, serve as scaffold material for cells and can bridge nerve lesions. Nanopartikel with chitosan are also investigated for local release of drugs and signaling molecules e.g. to initiate nerve growth. Research in context of Alzheimer found anti-neuroinflammatory effects of chitosan and protection against cell apoptosis or degeneration. Read more about the effects of chitosan on nerve cells in the following articles.
Artificial nerve conduits are used for peripheral nerve damage, but still have some disadvantages compared to autologous cells, such as lack of neurotrophic factors. In the presented study, a nerve conduit made of chitosan, collagen and Schwann cells is used to repair damage to the sciatic nerve of mice, thus providing a simpler alternative to the complex autologous nerve transplantation.
Injuries to the peripheral nervous system can cause substantial motor and sensory deficits. In the presented study, self-assembling peptide-based hydrogels are injected into a chitosan nanofiber scaffold and used as an artificial nerve graft.