New basic insights on the potential of chitosan-based medical device for improving functional recovery after radical prostatectomy

Previous studies have demonstrated promising effects of a Chitosan-Membrane (CS-Me) for protection of neurovascular bundles on potency recovery in patients that undergo nerve sparing radical prostatectomy. The aim of this current study was many-fold: (1) to evaluate the neuro-regenerative potential of CS-Me on acutely axotomized autonomic neurons in vitro; (2) to rule out the possibility that a pro-regenerative biomaterial could interfere with the proliferation activity of prostate cancer cell lines; (3) to provide an in vivo proof of the biocompatibility and regeneration promoting effect of CS-Me in a standardized animal model of peripheral nerve injury and repair; (4) finally, to evaluate the tissue reaction induced by the degrading material.