Research Article Development of a Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface for Control of a Neuroprosthetic Limb Melanie G. Urbanchek, 1 Theodore A. Kung, 1 Christopher M. Frost, 1 David C. Martin, 2 Lisa M. Larkin, 3,4 Adi Wollstein, 1 and Paul S. Cederna 1,4 1 Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5463, USA 2 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716-1501, USA 3 Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA 4 Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2110, USA Correspondence should be addressed to Melanie G. Urbanchek; melurban@umich.edu Received 7 January 2016; Revised 5 April 2016; Accepted 17 April 2016 Academic Editor: Antonella Motta Copyright © 2016 Melanie G. Urbanchek et al. Tis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background. Te purpose of this experiment was to develop a peripheral nerve interface using cultured myoblasts within a scafold to provide a biologically stable interface while providing signal amplifcation for neuroprosthetic control and preventing neuroma formation. Methods. A Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface (RPNI) composed of a scafold and cultured myoblasts was implanted on the end of a divided peroneal nerve in rats ( = 25). Te scafold material consisted of either silicone mesh, acellular muscle, or acellular muscle with chemically polymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) conductive polymer. Average implantation time was 93 days. Electrophysiological tests were performed at endpoint to determine RPNI viability and ability to transduce neural signals. Tissue samples were examined using both light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Results. All implanted RPNIs, regardless of scafold type, remained viable and displayed robust vascularity. Electromyographic activity and stimulated compound muscle action potentials were successfully recorded from all RPNIs. Physiologic eferent motor action potentials were detected from RPNIs in response to sensory foot stimulation. Histology and transmission electron microscopy revealed mature muscle fbers, axonal regeneration without neuroma formation, neovascularization, and synaptogenesis. Desmin staining confrmed the preservation and maturation of myoblasts within the RPNIs. Conclusions. RPNI demonstrates signifcant myoblast maturation, innervation, and vascularization without neuroma formation. 1. Introduction Breakthroughs in robotic technology have facilitated the advent of upper extremity prosthetic devices which have the capability to emulate the functions of a native extremity. However, realization of the full potential of these devices has been hindered by the lack of an optimal interface between the patient and the artifcial limb. Tis crucial interface must permit reliable transmission of both eferent motor com- mands and aferent sensory signals of sufcient amplitude to be detectable above the inherent electrical noise. One of the more popular strategies to achieve prosthetic control involves a variety of experimental intraneural or epineu- ral electrodes placed directly within or on the epineurial surface of peripheral nerves within the residual limb [1]. Tis technique is particularly attractive because a signifcant amount of axonal sorting and organization occurs within peripheral nerves; therefore, directly interfacing with residual peripheral nerves provides greatly increased signal specifcity as compared to other types of control systems including brain interfaces. However, while many types of peripheral nerve interfaces (PNIs) have been studied and successfully utilized to transduce eferent motor action potentials, they are limited by their lack of long-term stability. Te major design concern is to provide a sufciently robust interface capable of detecting physiologic action potentials while limiting the axonal damage and foreign body reaction which Hindawi Publishing Corporation BioMed Research International Volume 2016, Article ID 5726730, 8 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5726730