Regeneration of Peripheral Nerves Using Neuroinductive Biomaterial Scaffolds

This dissertation explored the development of neuroinductive biomaterial scaffolds for peripheral nerve regeneration, focusing on keratin derived from human hair. The study found that keratin biomaterials were highly biocompatible and promoted Schwann cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration. In small animal models, keratin hydrogels implanted into nerve guidance conduits improved motor function recovery by 150-300% at early time points and showed enhanced neuromuscular regeneration in long-term assessments. Additionally, keratin facilitated functional regeneration over critical size defects in large animal models. The findings suggested that keratin biomaterials could serve as an effective "off-the-shelf" product for treating peripheral nerve injuries, potentially surpassing current clinical capabilities.