{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,7]],"date-time":"2026-07-07T17:53:15Z","timestamp":1783446795521,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1775001600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Science and Technology Council","award":["114-2221-E468-003"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["114-2221-E468-003"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JFB"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Braided nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) composed of decellularized porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) were developed to achieve an appropriate balance between mechanical performance and biological compatibility for peripheral nerve repair. This study aimed to compare four SIS-braided conduits with silicone tubes in terms of bending compliance, tensile strength, swelling behavior, and cytocompatibility. SIS-braided conduit exhibited a favorable combination of flexibility, tensile strength, and dimensional stability. In vitro evaluations using PC12 and SW10 cells demonstrated that SIS-braided conduit supported neurite outgrowth and Schwann cell adhesion, confirming its favorable cytocompatibility. Based on these findings, SIS-braided conduits and silicone tubes were subsequently evaluated in a rat sciatic nerve defect model. Functional recovery assessed using the Sciatic Functional Index suggested preliminary functional recovery in the SIS-braided conduit, and histological analyses revealed evidence of axonal regeneration and myelin formation within the conduit. Overall, the results indicate that the integration of mechanical robustness with biological activity is essential for the design of nerve graft substitutes. The conduit braided from decellularized small intestinal submucosa represents a promising biodegradable alternative, a considerable biodegradable alternative to conventional non-degradable silicone conduits for peripheral nerve repair.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfb17040170","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T08:08:34Z","timestamp":1775030914000},"page":"170","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Nerve Guidance Conduit Prepared from Decellularized Small Intestine for Nerve Repair"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Xiang-Ting","family":"Huang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan"},{"name":"Horien Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd., Taichung 40768, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8503-6170","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ying-Chih","family":"Lin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Horien Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd., Taichung 40768, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ling-Yun","family":"Cheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Horien Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd., Taichung 40768, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yi-Dan","family":"Chang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6201-2985","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Wen-Yu","family":"Su","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, X., Zhang, X., Hao, M., Wang, D., Jiang, Z., Sun, L., Gao, Y., Jin, Y., Lei, P., and Zhuo, Y. (2022). The application of collagen in the repair of peripheral nerve defect. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/fbioe.2022.973301"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1159\/000197900","article-title":"Incidence of traumatic peripheral nerve injuries and amputations in Sweden between 1998 and 2006","volume":"32","author":"Asplund","year":"2009","journal-title":"Neuroepidemiology"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"255","DOI":"10.1016\/S1474-4422(19)30411-9","article-title":"The global burden of neurological disorders: Translating evidence into policy","volume":"19","author":"Feigin","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lancet Neurol."},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"tkaa002","article-title":"Application of stem cells in peripheral nerve regeneration","volume":"8","author":"Yi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Burn. Trauma"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jconrel.2019.11.021","article-title":"Functional polymeric nerve guidance conduits and drug delivery strategies for peripheral nerve repair and regeneration","volume":"317","author":"Manoukian","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Control. Release"},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"266","article-title":"Tailoring the elasticity of nerve implants for regulating peripheral nerve regeneration","volume":"4","author":"Kong","year":"2023","journal-title":"Smart Mater. Med."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"202","DOI":"10.1098\/rsif.2011.0438","article-title":"A biomaterials approach to peripheral nerve regeneration: Bridging the peripheral nerve gap and enhancing functional recovery","volume":"9","author":"Daly","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. R. Soc. Interface"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1003","DOI":"10.4103\/1673-5374.158369","article-title":"Nerve autografts and tissue-engineered materials for the repair of peripheral nerve injuries: A 5-year bibliometric analysis","volume":"10","author":"Gao","year":"2015","journal-title":"Neural Regen. Res."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brainresbull.2019.07.026","article-title":"Development and implementation of biomaterials to promote neural repair","volume":"152","author":"Modo","year":"2019","journal-title":"Brain Res. Bull."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"180","DOI":"10.1097\/SAP.0b013e3182361b23","article-title":"Innovative treatment of peripheral nerve injuries: Combined reconstructive concepts","volume":"68","author":"Ducic","year":"2012","journal-title":"Ann. Plast. Surg."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"229","article-title":"Evolution of natural polymer nerve conduit technology in peripheral nerve repair: A narrative review","volume":"1","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Adv. Technol. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1590\/S0102-86502015001000006","article-title":"Combined polyglycolic acid tube and autografting versus autografting or polyglycolic acid tube alone. A comparative study of peripheral nerve regeneration in rats","volume":"30","author":"Costa","year":"2015","journal-title":"Acta Cir. Bras."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e1700635","DOI":"10.1002\/biot.201700635","article-title":"Strategic Design and Fabrication of Nerve Guidance Conduits for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration","volume":"13","author":"Sarker","year":"2018","journal-title":"Biotechnol. J."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actbio.2021.07.028","article-title":"Porous nerve guidance conduits reinforced with braided composite structures of silk\/magnesium filaments for peripheral nerve repair","volume":"134","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Acta Biomater."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3349","DOI":"10.1021\/acschemneuro.9b00203","article-title":"Peripheral Nerve Conduit: Materials and Structures","volume":"10","author":"Houshyar","year":"2019","journal-title":"ACS Chem. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"405","article-title":"Peripheral nerve conduits: Technology update","volume":"7","author":"Arslantunali","year":"2014","journal-title":"Med. Devices Evid. Res."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2013.06.038","article-title":"Carbodiimide crosslinked collagen from porcine dermal matrix for high-strength tissue engineering scaffold","volume":"61","author":"Li","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int. J. Biol. Macromol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fujii, M., and Tanaka, R. (2022). Porcine Small Intestinal Submucosa Alters the Biochemical Properties of Wound Healing: A Narrative Review. Biomedicines, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/biomedicines10092213"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101032","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mtbio.2024.101032","article-title":"The application of small intestinal submucosa in tissue regeneration","volume":"26","author":"Zhao","year":"2024","journal-title":"Mater. Today Bio"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1097\/00001433-200408000-00003","article-title":"Peripheral nerve repair: A review","volume":"15","author":"Rummler","year":"2004","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Orthop."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1299","DOI":"10.1039\/C8BM00260F","article-title":"Biomimetic neural scaffolds: A crucial step towards optimal peripheral nerve regeneration","volume":"6","author":"Du","year":"2018","journal-title":"Biomater. Sci."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2421739","DOI":"10.1080\/14686996.2024.2421739","article-title":"Atomic force microscopy for characterization of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) based materials","volume":"25","author":"Batasheva","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123346","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biomaterials.2025.123346","article-title":"Smooth muscle extracellular matrix modified small intestinal submucosa conduits promote peripheral nerve repair","volume":"321","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Biomaterials"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"810","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhsg.2023.07.014","article-title":"Histological Comparison of Porcine Small Intestine Submucosa and Bovine Type-I Collagen Conduit for Nerve Repair in a Rat Model","volume":"5","author":"Zhukauskas","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Hand Surg. Glob. Online"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lin, K.-Y., Tsai, Y.-L., Kuan, C.-Y., Lin, Y.-C., Su, W.-Y., Chang, H.-H., and Wang, C.-Y. (2026). A preclinical overall evaluation of a novel biomimetic collagen membrane for guided tissue regeneration. J. Dent. Sci.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jds.2026.01.023"},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"(2021). Biological Evaluation of Medical Devices\u2014Part 12: Sample Preparation and Reference Materials (Standard No. ISO 10993-12:2021)."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"735","DOI":"10.1177\/1558944718769382","article-title":"Assessment of Conduit-Assisted Primary Nerve Repair Strength with Varying Suture Size, Number, and Location","volume":"14","author":"Babovic","year":"2019","journal-title":"Hand"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2400142","DOI":"10.1002\/adhm.202400142","article-title":"A Gelatin\/Alginate Double Network Hydrogel Nerve Guidance Conduit Fabricated by a Chemical-Free Gamma Radiation for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration","volume":"13","author":"Kim","year":"2024","journal-title":"Adv. Healthc. Mater."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/S0165-0270(01)00378-8","article-title":"Functional evaluation of peripheral nerve regeneration in the rat: Walking track analysis","volume":"108","author":"Varejao","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Neurosci. Methods"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1657","DOI":"10.4103\/1673-5374.141798","article-title":"Histological assessment in peripheral nerve tissue engineering","volume":"9","author":"Carriel","year":"2014","journal-title":"Neural Regen. Res."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"403","DOI":"10.1080\/00914037.2020.1725755","article-title":"Assessment of physico-chemical and biological properties of sericin-collagen substrates for PNS regeneration","volume":"70","author":"Gallo","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Polym. Mater. Polym. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_32","first-page":"288","article-title":"Peripheral nerve compression syndromes of the upper limb","volume":"37","author":"Nicholls","year":"2019","journal-title":"Surgery"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"404","DOI":"10.1080\/00914037.2025.2562081","article-title":"Advancements in synthetic polymers for 3D bioprinting materials, applications, and future prospects","volume":"75","author":"Agarwalla","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Polym. Mater. Polym. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Toth, T., Prisca, R.A., Ballo, N., Prisca, A.M., Szasz, E.A., and Borda, A. (2025). Porcine Small Intestinal Submucosa Extracellular Matrix: A Meta-Analysis of Composition, Processing Techniques, and Biomedical Applications. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 26.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms26136276"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"474","DOI":"10.1080\/00914037.2014.977893","article-title":"Development of Polyvinyl Alcohol Fibrous Biodegradable Scaffolds for Nerve Tissue Engineering Applications:In Vitro Study","volume":"64","author":"Alhosseini","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Polym. Mater. Polym. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ymeth.2015.03.005","article-title":"Methods of tissue decellularization used for preparation of biologic scaffolds and in vivo relevance","volume":"84","author":"Keane","year":"2015","journal-title":"Methods"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bejar-Chapa, M., Rossi, N., King, N.C., Kostyra, D.M., Hussey, M.R., McGuire, K.R., Randolph, M.A., Redmond, R.W., and Winograd, J.M. (2025). Comparison of Photochemically Sealed Commercial Biomembranes for Nerve Regeneration. J. Funct. Biomater., 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/jfb16020050"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Monfette, V., Choiniere, W., Godbout-Lavoie, C., Pelletier, S., Langelier, E., and Lauzon, M.A. (2023). Thermoelectric Freeze-Casting of Biopolymer Blends: Fabrication and Characterization of Large-Size Scaffolds for Nerve Tissue Engineering Applications. J. Funct. Biomater., 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/jfb14060330"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"305","DOI":"10.1586\/17434440.2014.900436","article-title":"Influence of sterilisation methods on collagen-based devices stability and properties","volume":"11","author":"Delgado","year":"2014","journal-title":"Expert Rev. Med. Devices"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1619","DOI":"10.1080\/00914037.2023.2299797","article-title":"Advanced biomaterials for tendon repair: Development and application","volume":"73","author":"Shen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int. J. Polym. Mater. Polym. Biomater."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1837","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joca.2016.03.008","article-title":"Gait analysis methods for rodent models of arthritic disorders: Reviews and recommendations","volume":"24","author":"Lakes","year":"2016","journal-title":"Osteoarthr. Cartil."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2152","DOI":"10.2174\/1570159X18666201111103815","article-title":"Xenogeneic Decellularized Extracellular Matrix-based Biomaterials for Peripheral Nerve Repair and Regeneration","volume":"19","author":"Li","year":"2021","journal-title":"Curr. Neuropharmacol."}],"container-title":["Journal of Functional Biomaterials"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-4983\/17\/4\/170\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,3]],"date-time":"2026-04-03T04:17:40Z","timestamp":1775189860000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-4983\/17\/4\/170"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]}},"alternative-id":["jfb17040170"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jfb17040170","relation":{},"ISSN":["2079-4983"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2079-4983","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]]}}}