Biodegradable Conductive Nerve Conduits Based on Carbon Apatite-Biopolymer Biomaterials: Synthesis and Properties

The mini-review examines the current state of the problem of peripheral nerve (PN) regeneration, including details of the internal structure of PN, types of their damage, biochemical aspects, in particular the function of Schwann cells, macrophages, intermolecular interactions of cell membrane receptors with extracellular matrix proteins, which are involved in the peripheral nerve regeneration process. The development of artificial nerve tubes (conduits) to suture the distal and proximal ends of the damaged nerve with an artificial conduit is the main strategy for PN recovery. Emphasis is placed on the use of leading biomaterials of the new generation, in particular, based on natural polysaccharides (alginate - Alg and chitosan - CS) and carbon nanoparticles CNP (single and multi wall carbon nanotubes – SWCNTs/MWCNTs, graphene - G, graphene oxide - GO or fullerene - C60) obtained in the Sumy State University laboratory "Bionanocomposite" (Ukraine) to solve the PN regeneration problem. The results of studies of the obtained materials with carbon nanoparticles such as C60 and SWCNTs on electrical conductivity, swelling ability, and the ability to adsorb tryptophan (an amino acid that is indispensable for the functioning of the central nervous system) are presented. The peculiarities of the effect of carbon-based materials on the restoration of the functions of damaged nerve tissue are considered. Also, the usefulness of CNTs in neuroscience has been noted due to their specific properties, namely strength, flexibility, and electrical conductivity, in particular for mediating the growth and differentiation of neurons. This characteristics of the recently created polymer samples with CNP showed that these biomaterials have properties beneficial for neural tissue engineering.