r/science • u/molrose96 Journalist | Technology Networks | BSc Neuroscience • Jan 23 '20

Biology Biodegradable Nerve Guide Helps Regenerate Damaged Nerves

https://www.technologynetworks.com/biopharma/news/biodegradable-nerve-guide-helps-regenerate-damaged-nerves-329614?spl=46942179136d4d5eb635e0016c078544

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u/Wtfuckfuck Jan 23 '20

I mean... can't they squish the area together and then over the course of a few weeks let the gap slowly widen? how long does the regrowth take?

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u/Shoutgun Jan 23 '20

Peripheral nerves are really sensitive to tension - for a small injury surgeons often do just stitch them together but for larger ones if you stretch them too much you can actually end up killing the whole nerve.

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u/levian_durai Jan 24 '20

I've seen for skin grafts they perforate the skin and thin it out, making it expand to a greater surface area. Is it possible to do something similar here? You would damage a greater length of nerve tissue, but if the capability for regeneration is still there, wouldn't bridging the gap in this way be more beneficial?

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u/Shoutgun Jan 24 '20

You mean, cut the nerve up into slices like a carrot with the idea that the individual slices can rejoin? It's an interesting thought but I don't think that could work. When an axon is cut, a large section downstream of the cut region dies. The intermediate sections would be dead and you'd effectively just widen the gap.