WHAT IS CHITOSAN?

• Chitosan is a cationic polysaccharide of natural origin obtained by alkaline deacetylation of chitin.
• The chitin used in the production of Reaxon® tubes is of natural origin.
•  

ADVANTAGES OF CHITOSAN IN THE USE OF REAXON® TUBES

• The transparency of the tubes enables effective positioning of the fascicles and early detection of blood clots.
• Thanks to the mechanical properties of the tubes, suturing is facilitated (even with 9-0 sutures)
• Very low risk of an immune response: non-protein origin; not of porcine or bovine origin
• Bioactive:
  • limits adherences 4
  • promotes macrocyte growth 6
  • positive effect on Schwann cell growth 7
• Good tube integrity for 18 months (resorption at 2.5 years) 2
• Nerve repair without tension to enhance healing and function recovery

The nerve regrowth and protection tubes are intended for the repair of peripheral nerve lesions in patients suffering from total nerve rupture.

Two versions are available:

/ REAXON® NERVE GUIDE

Assists nerve regrowth when a direct suture is not possible (for sutures with a loss of substance of up to 26 mm)

/ REAXON® DIRECT

Enables protection when there is little or no loss of matter

1 Croisier F, Jérôme C. Chitosan-based biomaterials for tissue engineering. European Polymer Journal. avr 2013;49(4):780‑92.
2 Haastert-Talini et al. Chitosan tubes of varying degrees of acetylation for bridging peripheral nerve defects. Biomaterials 2013; 34: 9886-9904.
3 The biocompatibility of Reaxon® Nerve Guide has been proven in accordance with the ISO 10993 standards.
4 Marcol et al. Reduction of post-traumatic neuroma and epineural scar formation in rat sciatic nerve by application of microcrystallic chitosan. Microsurgery 2011; 31: 642-649.
5 Rabea et al. Chitosan as antimicrobial agent: application and mode of action. Biomacromolecules 2003; 4: 1457-1465.
6 Oliveira et al. Chitosan drives anti-inflammatory macrophage polarisation and pro-inflammatory denditric cell stimulation. Eur Cell Mater 2012; 24: 136-52
7 Yuan et al. The interaction of Schwann cells with chitosan membranes and fibers in vitro. Biomaterials 2004; 25: 4273-4278
8 Freier et al. Chitin-based tubes for tissue engineering in the nervous system. Biomaterials 2005; 26: 6424-6432.