Conductive ionic liquid hydrogel filled anti-inflammatory nerve conduit repairs peripheral nerve defect

Conductive and anti-inflammatory microenvironments have been proven effective for peripheral nerve repair. Herein, a conductive chitosan-hydroxyethyl cellulose/ionic liquid (CS-HEC/IL) hydrogel was constructed, which was injected into a hollow anti-inflammatory poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone)/luteolin nanofiber conduit. Such conduit greatly enhanced the proliferation of Schwann and PC12 cells, and meanwhile promoted the macrophages transition to the M2 phenotype. Following implantation into a 10 mm sciatic nerve defect in a rat model, the scaffold was harvested 8 weeks post-surgery for histological and functional assessment. Histological analysis revealed that the conduit markedly enhanced nerve regeneration, as indicated by extensive myelination and axonal outgrowth, while functional assessments revealed improved motor recovery and nerve conduction, highlighting their therapeutic potential. Generally, the PLCL/Lut-CS-HEC/IL scaffold is a promising therapeutic strategy for peripheral nerve injuries.