Research Progress on The Application of Chitosan Scaffold in Peripheral Nerve Repair

Chitosan, a natural polymer, is widely used in various fields of tissue engineering due to its excellent biocompatibility, safe degradation behavior, and low immunogenicity. Research indicates that both chitosan and its degradation products exhibit potential interactions with cells related to nerve regeneration and the neural microenvironment. This interaction contributes to enhancing axonal regeneration while minimizing neuroma formation. Consequently, researchers have focused on designing diverse scaffold forms using chitosan as the fundamental material for addressing different types of peripheral nerve injuries. These advancements lay a foundation for the prospective application of chitosan scaffolds in peripheral nerve repair. In neural tissue engineering, chitosan is utilized to construct different forms of neural tissue engineering scaffolds, mimicking the natural structure of peripheral nerves and guiding the regeneration of damaged nerves, which has become the main research direction in peripheral nerve repair. This comprehensive review delves into the multifaceted applications and burgeoning advancements surrounding various chitosan scaffolds, ranging from hydrogels, films, microspheres, to conduits-in the context of peripheral nerve injury rehabilitation. Moreover, it meticulously scrutinizes extant challenges and envisages future research trajectories, thereby offering valuable insights to propel the exploration and eventual clinical integration of chitosan-based neural tissue engineering scaffolds.