Calendula officinalis extract-loaded conduits improved sciatic nerve injury repair through upregulation of BDNF and GFAP.

This article focuses on the development and evaluation of electrospun polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/gelatin) nanofibrous conduits loaded with Calendula officinalis extract (COE) for sciatic nerve regeneration in a rat model. The study demonstrates that COE-loaded scaffolds exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, support PC-12 cell viability and migration, and have suitable mechanical and biodegradation characteristics. In vivo, the combination of COE-loaded conduits with regular treadmill exercise significantly enhanced nerve healing, as evidenced by improved histological outcomes, functional recovery, and increased tissue levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), alongside reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). These findings suggest that the synergistic use of COE delivery and physical activity offers a promising therapeutic strategy for peripheral nerve injury repair.