The historical perspective of PNI as a clinical problem (), the classification of peripheral nerve injuries (),the limitations of innate physiological regeneration along with surgical ()and implantable biomedical conduit devices are discussed and highlighted (). A number of manufacturing methodologies are discussed with microstereolithography in particular highlighted as an advantageous technique for NGC fabrication (). Chapter 2 A novel microwave synthesis method was developed for the rapid production of p(CL)MA and p(LA)MA photopolymerisable pre-polymers. The application of this methodology for biomedical uses has been previously discussed () and has been applied for NGC fabrication by microstereolithography in this work. Chapter 3 A 405nm cross section patterning microstereolithography system was constructed in the described arrangement. This system has been used for the fabrication of nerve guidance conduits in a number of different photopolymerisable acrylate based materials including p(EG)DA, p(CL)MA. p(EG)DA and p(CL)MA materials have been experimentally assessed using in vitro cell culture techniques demonstrating positive cellular adhesion for both material substrates. p(EG)DA devices were subsequently tested in vivo with comparable results to graft repair. This work utilising p(EG)DA was published in () along with p(CL)MA materials and devices described in Chapter 3. The potential for inclusion of intralumenary guidance features was investigated by incorporating them into cross section during projection structuring, or by inclusion of electrospun p(CL) fibres in Chapter 3. These more advanced yielded mixed results following in vivo implantation although they did demonstrate a clear efficacy dependent upon the fibre packing density, a feature requiring further experimental work to optimize. This importance of
The historical perspective of PNI as a clinical problem (), the classification of peripheral nerve injuries (),the limitations of innate physiological regeneration along with surgical ()and implantable biomedical conduit devices are discussed and highlighted (). A number of manufacturing methodologies are discussed with microstereolithography in particular highlighted as an advantageous technique for NGC fabrication (). Chapter 2 A novel microwave synthesis method was developed for the rapid production of p(CL)MA and p(LA)MA photopolymerisable pre-polymers. The application of this methodology for biomedical uses has been previously discussed () and has been applied for NGC fabrication by microstereolithography in this work. Chapter 3 A 405nm cross section patterning microstereolithography system was constructed in the described arrangement. This system has been used for the fabrication of nerve guidance conduits in a number of different photopolymerisable acrylate based materials including p(EG)DA, p(CL)MA. p(EG)DA and p(CL)MA materials have been experimentally assessed using in vitro cell culture techniques demonstrating positive cellular adhesion for both material substrates. p(EG)DA devices were subsequently tested in vivo with comparable results to graft repair. This work utilising p(EG)DA was published in () along with p(CL)MA materials and devices described in Chapter 3. The potential for inclusion of intralumenary guidance features was investigated by incorporating them into cross section during projection structuring, or by inclusion of electrospun p(CL) fibres in Chapter 3. These more advanced yielded mixed results following in vivo implantation although they did demonstrate a clear efficacy dependent upon the fibre packing density, a feature requiring further experimental work to optimize. This importance of
Thesis%20Final%20Corrections%20CJP%20resubmission%20copy%2013_5_2015%202.docx