Peripheral Nerve Repair with Cultured Schwann Cells: Getting Closer to the Clinics

Figure 1

Stem cell with scaffold support in peripheral nerve injury. (a) Nerve injury with stem cell transplantation shows limited remyelination and axonal growth between the proximal and distal stumps. (b) Nerve injury with scaffolding devices can be fabricated to secrete neurotrophic factors aiming to enhance the regenerative process, but still the outcome results in limited remyelination and axonal growth between the proximal and distal stumps. (c) The combined use of stem cells and scaffolding promotes best results, allowing an improved substrate for cell-to-cell contact and increased concentrations of released neurotrophic factors. Additionally, transplanted stem cells may stimulate endogenous Schwann cells to proliferate at a higher rate, thus enhancing remyelination and axonal growth following peripheral nerve damage.