The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical properties of an innovated nerve guide conduit fabricated from biodegradable polymeric materials.

We tested the effects of hydration in physicomechanical properties of the guides, also we tested the influence of different methods of sterilization include UV light and heat-based hydrogen peroxide on the physical and biomechanical properties by using 2 methods of mechanical testing (tensile and flexural bending test), we compared our results with commercially available nerve guides and with rat sciatic nerve.

We found that the effects of hydration improve the properties mechanic including the flexibility and Young's modulus was slightly increased and stability of the physical properties, also we found the effect of sterilization with UV-C softening the nerve guides and increase the flexibility and bring the Young's modulus closer to that of rats sciatic nerve, reverse the utilization of heat-based hydrogen peroxide which had deleterious effects on the nerve guides materials.

In this study, we investigated the effects of reinforcement, hydration and sterilization on the newly innovated nerve guides. This guide presents a motive mechanical property, which are more closed to the mechanical properties of rats sciatic nerve, comparing to the commercial nerve guides. The physical properties (length and diameter) are very stables, the changes in the dimensions after 5min of hydration is less than 2%. The hydration improves the mechanical properties of our fabricated nerve guides and they need furthers studies. Utilization of UV-C sterilization give good results, and make the guides more flexible.

Nerve guides should be hydrated before implantation and adequate method of sterilisation should be chosen in order to conserve biomechanical properties.