A research team led by Professor Yang Hee-seok of Dankook University's biomedical systems program has developed a biodegradable nerve regeneration material derived from milk protein that regulates immune responses and promotes the recovery of damaged peripheral nerves.
When peripheral nerves are severed by accidents or trauma, the most widely used treatment is autologous nerve grafting — transplanting a segment of the patient's own healthy nerve to the injury site. While effective, the approach has significant drawbacks: the amount of nerve tissue available for grafting is limited, and harvesting it can cause additional damage to healthy tissue.
Researchers have explored alternatives, including artificial nerve guidance conduits that bridge the gap between severed nerves and are loaded with growth-promoting substances. A persistent challenge, however, has been that externally introduced growth factors break down rapidly inside the body, making it difficult to sustain their therapeutic effect over time.
To overcome these limitations, the team developed a nerve regeneration material based on casein, the primary protein in milk. Combining casein with PVA (polyvinyl alcohol), a biocompatible polymer, and incorporating DOPA — a compound inspired by mussel adhesive proteins — the researchers produced what they call an MDP-DOPA hydrogel nerve guidance conduit.
The key innovation lies in how casein is used: rather than serving merely as a structural scaffold, the material is designed so that casein-derived peptides — including β-casomorphin — actively modulate the immune response at the injury site and support the growth of nerve cells.
In laboratory tests, the new material reduced inflammation, created a favorable environment for nerve regeneration and promoted neurite outgrowth. Animal experiments involving 10-millimeter sciatic nerve injuries showed improvements in walking function and nerve signal transmission, along with a marked reduction in muscle atrophy caused by nerve damage. The level of recovery approached that achieved by autologous nerve grafting, the current standard of care, the team said.
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