Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41590782›Full record

ReviewJournal of functional biomaterials2025

Mechanistic Advancements and Translational Progress in Hyaluronic Acid-Based Scaffolds and Conduits for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration.

Caroline J Cushman, Naveen A Sakthiyendran, Maryam Salimi, Evan J Hernandez, Ruthvik Allala, Tammam Hanna, Anceslo Idicula, Brendan J MacKay

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of functional biomaterials, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Caroline J CushmanSchool of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.ORCID 0009-0000-3946-7247
Naveen A SakthiyendranDepartment of Neurological Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA.ORCID 0009-0001-3445-5121
Maryam SalimiDepartment Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houton, TX 77030, USA.
Evan J HernandezDepartment of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.ORCID 0009-0008-9587-2093
Ruthvik AllalaDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
Tammam HannaDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0677-2549
Anceslo IdiculaDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.
Brendan J MacKayDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7538-2857

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injuries often recover poorly. Hyaluronic acid (HA) biomaterials, with regenerative and anti-fibrotic properties, may augment repair. We performed a PRISMA-guided systematic review of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase (January 2000-August 2024), capturing in vitro, in vivo, and clinical investigations of HA in peripheral nerve repair; data on study context, interventions, and outcomes were extracted. Screening and extraction were performed in duplicate. Forty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. Across in vitro and in vivo models, HA-based biomaterials consistently reduced perineural fibrosis, enhanced axonal regeneration, and improved SFI, CMAP, and NCV compared with conventional repair. Several HA hydrogels and composite conduits achieved functional outcomes approaching autografts, particularly when combined with exosomes, neurotrophic factors, or mechanobiologically tuned scaffolds. Early clinical studies demonstrated safety but remain limited by size and short follow-up. Overall, HA-containing biomaterials appear anti-fibrotic, neuroprotective, and pro-regenerative, supporting their promise as adjuncts for peripheral nerve reconstruction. For this to translate into clinical practice, future work should standardize formulations and dosing, employ rigorous, clinically relevant animal models with long-term endpoints, and advance well-powered, controlled trials to test effectiveness and durability in patients. Clinically, HA platforms show promise as anti-adhesion barriers after neurolysis and as biofunctional fillers/coatings for nerve conduits, but standardized formulations and adequately powered trials are needed to define indications and dosing.

Indexed as

hyaluronic acidhyaluronic acid scaffoldsnerve biomaterialsnerve regenerationperipheral nerve repair

Identifiers

PMID41590782
PMCPMC12841830

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.