Chitosan films with varying degrees of acetylation for application in peripheral nerve regeneration

Damage to the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) is remarkably common and occurs mainly as a result from trauma or complications of surgery [1]. Although recovery of nerve function occurs in some mild
injuries, outcomes are frequently poor following severe trauma, resulting in long-term impairment of
limb function, dysaesthesia and pain, often with associated psychological effects [2]. As consequence,
this issue has been raising major concerns in regenerative medicine for several years as unsatisfactory recovery continues to be a significant clinical challenge [3]. Chitosan, because of its good biocompatibility and physicochemical properties has been proposed as a biomaterial for tackling peripheral nerve injuries. The Degree of Acetylation (DA) is a key parameter that can be controlled and has a major impact on material properties. According to the literature, decreasing DA leads to greater Schwann cell adhesion [4].