Design of Porous Alginate Conduit using a Freeze Drying Technique for Neural Engineering

Peripheral nerve injuries can lead to lifetime loss of function and permanent disfigurement. Different methods, such as conventional allograft procedures and use of biologic tubes present problems when used for damaged peripheral nerve reconstruction. Designed scaffolds comprised of natural and synthetic materials are now widely used in the reconstruction of damaged tissues. Porous alginate conduits were fabricated using a freeze drying technique and were investigated by SEM analysis. The results demonstrate that the alginate conduits have high interconnection and porosity, so they hold promise for use as neural tissue engineering scaffolds.