Functionalization of polymer surface for nerve repair

Abstract

Surfaces play an important role in biological system for most biological reactions occurring at surfaces and interfaces. One of the emphasis of developing biomaterials for nerve repair is to create perfect surfaces which can provoke specific cellular responses and direct new nerve tissue regeneration. The improvement in biocompatibility of biomaterials for nerve repair by directed surface functionalization is an important contribution to biomaterial development. In this paper, recent advance in polymer surface functionalization for nerve repair is reviewed. Various methods for polymer surface functionalization are introduced for developing nerve repair biomaterials, such as plasma treatment, ion implantation, hydroxyapatite coating, incorporation of bioactive molecules, micropatterning of surface, and their combinations. ©2008CPST.