3-D Polymer of Silicon Particles for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration with BDNF Model

Overview

Peripheral Nerve Injuries (PNIs), typically caused by trauma, medical conditions, and autoimmune diseases, are a major cause of lifelong disability. However, less than 50% regain sufficient motor and sensory functions. Due to limited success and risks associated with current solutions, this research aims to improve peripheral nerve regeneration by developing a novel biomimetic 3D fibrous polymer scaffold nerve guidance channel loaded with neurotrophin-secreting silicon particles for targeted drug delivery. Using molecular docking of four neurotrophins, BDNF was identified as having the highest binding affinity to the TrkB receptor due to better electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, surface compatibility, and hydrophobicity. Cylindrical polymers were then created through spray nebulization and optimized for slow release by experimenting with drug loading chemistries, polymer materials, nanoparticle integration methods, and particle sizes. Each scaffold was submerged in PBS during in vitro experimentation to examine the BDNF surrogate release and protein activity. Furthermore, data augmentation, model selection, hyperparameter tuning, and K-fold cross validation were implemented to develop a Random Forest Classifier machine learning model that accurately predicts personalized BDNF dosages for ideal regeneration (AUC=0.89). The channel significantly minimized burst release by 40% (p<0.05) and produced sufficient, localized release with high activity (>95%) at a steady rate (R2=0.96) over the 2-week regeneration period. Optimal biological properties were present after in-depth characterization. This research not only presents the proof-of-concept for complete recovery after nerve damage, but also demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach that could be used for other drug delivery systems in healthcare.

Competition history

• AJAS 2025 Category not listed

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