At Penn Dental Medicine, Dr. Ahn Le, the Norman Vine Endowed Professor of Oral Rehabilitation, is leading a groundbreaking approach to nerve repair in the craniofacial region, potentially revolutionizing the standard treatment protocol. Traditionally, surgeons have used nerves from an arm or leg to restore functionality—known as an autograft. While effective, this method often sacrifices a healthy body part and may not result in complete nerve recovery. Dr. Le’s innovative strategy, however, utilizes gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) from gum tissue to foster nerve regrowth without these drawbacks.

For over a decade, Dr. Le’s research has focused on using GMSCs to regenerate various craniofacial tissues and treat conditions like osteonecrosis of the jaw, often associated with cancer treatments. Her recent work involves transforming these stem cells into Schwann-like cells, which are crucial in the peripheral nervous system for producing neural growth factors and myelin, the insulating layer around nerves.

In collaboration with bioengineer D. Kacy Cullen from Penn Medicine, Dr. Le has made significant strides in applying this research to practical treatments. They have developed a technique involving a collagen scaffold infused with these engineered cells, which has proven as effective as traditional autografts in animal models. This method not only promotes nerve repair but also reduces the need for additional injuries to the patient’s body.

The initial successes of Dr. Le’s approach have been promising, particularly for small nerve repairs. The team is now working to refine this method for larger gaps typically resulting from trauma or tumor removal surgeries. Dr. Le is optimistic about the clinical application of this technology, not only for facial nerve repair but potentially for other areas of the body as well.

This innovative approach not only mitigates the need for invasive autograft procedures but also opens a new chapter in regenerative medicine. Utilizing the body’s own resources to foster healing is a significant advancement in medical science.”

  craniofacial surgery, Dr. Ahn Le, nerve repair, Penn Dental Medicine, Regenerative Medicine, stem cells