Femke Mathot

Chapter 8 136 Seeding efficiency With the Avance® Nerve Graft, a seeding efficiency of 18.23% ( ± 28.12) was obtained after 6 hours, reaching a maximum of 66.46% ( ± 16.01) after 12 hours that was sustained at 59.90% ( ± 28.81) after 24 hours of dynamic seeding. With the NeuraGen® Nerve Guide, the seeding efficiency increased from 52.08% ( ± 14.81) after 6 hours to 94.17% ( ± 4.03) after 12 hours but decreased to 52.50% ( ± 19.27) after 24 hours. Two-way ANOVA showed a significant interaction between seeding duration, the different groups and the seeding efficiency (p=0.004). Kruskal-Wallis analysis of within-group differences for the Avance® Nerve Grafts was significant (p=0.007). Pairwise comparisons showed that the increase in seeding efficiency between the first (6hr) and second (12hr) time points was statistically significant (p=0.006), but that the decrease between the second (12hr) and third (24 hr) time points was not (p=0.589). The Kruskal-Wallis analysis of within-group differences of the NeuraGen®Nerve Guide showed a significant interaction (p=0.024). Pairwise comparisons revealed a significant increase in seeding efficiency between time point 1 and 2 (p=0.029) and a significant decrease between time point 2 and 3 (P=0.029). Seeding efficiencies obtained with the NeuraGen® Nerve Guide were significantly higher than the seeding efficiencies obtained with the Avance® Nerve Graft after 12 hours of seeding (p=0.010). No significant differences were found at time point 1 (p=0.055) and time point 3 (p=0.522). The seeding efficiency over time for both groups is depicted in figure 8 . Figure 8. Seeding efficiencies of the Avance® Nerve Graft and the NeuraGen® Nerve Guide after completion of 6, 12 and 24 hours of dynamic seeding with human MSCs (n=6 per group per time point). Both groups obtained an optimal seeding efficiency after 12 hours of dynamic seeding; the Avance® Nerve Graft reached a seeding efficiency of 66.46% (± 16.01), the NeuraGen® Nerve Guide reached a seeding efficiency of 94.17% (± 4.03). Error bars: SEM. * = significant difference, with a >0.05. SEM = standard error of the mean 6 hours 12 hours 24 hours 0 50 100 Seeding duration Mean seeding efficiency (%) Seeding efficiency Avance® Nerve graft + MSCs NeuraGen® Nerve Guide + MSCs ✱