Preliminary investigation of a polyethylene glycol hydrogel "nerve glue".

BACKGROUND: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel is a biocompatible semi-adherent gel like substance that can potentially augment nerve repair much like a fibrin sealant. Potential advantages of this substance include fast preparation and set up time, as well as adhesion inhibiting properties. The purpose of this study was to perform an initial evaluation of PEG hydrogel in this application. METHODS: The sciatic nerves of 29 rats were transected and repaired using two 10-0 nylon sutures and either PEG hydrogel or fibrin glue. After 10 weeks, contraction forces of the reinnervated muscles were evaluated and histological assessment of scar tissue performed. RESULTS: Muscle strength testing revealed the average ratio of experimental to control sides for the fibrin glue group was 0.75 and for the PEG hydrogel group was 0.72 (no significant difference). Longitudinal sections through the nerve repair site showed no significant difference in nerve diameter but did demonstrate a significant reduction in scar thickness in the PEG hydrogel group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Though further study is necessary to fully evaluate, PEG hydrogel results in less scar tissue formation and equivalent muscle recovery as fibrin sealant when applied as a nerve glue in a rodent sciatic nerve repair model.

Comparative analysis of biomechanical performance of available "nerve glues".

PURPOSE: To compare a variety of potentially useful artificial and biological sealants applied to sutured nerve repairs to decrease gapping at the repaired site. METHODS: Fifty-seven fresh-frozen cadaveric nerve specimens were transected and repaired with two 8-0 nylon epineural sutures placed 180 degrees apart. The specimens were divided into 5 groups. Four groups received augmentation of the repair with application of either autologous fibrin glue, Tisseel fibrin glue, Evicel fibrin glue, or DuraSeal polyethylene glycol-based hydrogel sealant, and the fifth group had no glue. Each nerve construct was mounted in a servohydraulic materials testing machine and stretched at a constant 5 mm/min displacement rate until failure. A noncontact video analysis permitted normalization of stretch within the repair region. Statistical analysis was performed via analysis of variance followed by Tukey-Kramer post hoc pairwise comparison when indicated. RESULTS: Resistance to gapping as measured through normalized stiffness (N/mm/mm) was greater for the Tisseel group, Evicel group, and DuraSeal group versus the no-glue group only. The stiffness of the autologous group approached significance versus the no-glue group. There were no significant differences in stiffness between any of the nerve glue groups. There was no statistical difference for the peak load at failure between any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Avoidance of gapping at the nerve repair site is crucial in achieving successful nerve regeneration. Commercially available tissue sealants (Tisseel, Evicel, and DuraSeal), when used to augment 2-suture nerve repairs, as in our protocol, help prevent this initial gapping. None of the tissue sealants tested, however, increased the ultimate load to complete failure of the repair.