In vitro and in vivo studies of electroactive reduced graphene oxide-modified nanofiber scaffolds for peripheral nerve regeneration

Graphene, as a promising biomaterial, has received great attention in biomedical fields due to its intriguing properties, especially the conductivity and biocompatibility. Given limited studies on the effects of graphene-based scaffolds on peripheral nerve regeneration in vitro and in vivo under electrical stimulation (ES), the present study was intended to systematically investigate how conductive graphene-based nanofibrous scaffolds regulate Schwann cell (SC) behavior including migration, proliferation and myelination, and PC12 cell differentiation in vitro via ES, and whether these conductive scaffolds could guide SC migration and promote nerve regeneration in vivo. Briefly, the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was coated onto ApF/PLCL nanofibrous scaffolds via in situ redox reaction of the graphene oxide (GO). In vitro, RGO-coated ApF/PLCL (AP/RGO) scaffolds significantly enhanced SC migration, proliferation, and myelination including myelin-specific gene expression and neurotrophic factor secretion. The conditioned media of SCs cultured on AP/RGO scaffolds under ES could induce the differentiation of PC12 cells in a separate culture. In addition, PC12 cells cultured on the conductive AP/RGO scaffolds also showed elevated differentiation upon ES. In vivo implantation of the conductive AP/RGO nerve guidance conduits into rat sciatic nerve defects exhibited a similar healing capacity to autograft, which is the current gold standard in peripheral nerve regeneration. In view of the performance of AP/RGO scaffolds in modulating cell functions in vitro and promoting nerve regeneration in vivo, it is expected that the graphene-based conductive nanofibrous scaffolds would exhibit their potential in peripheral nerve repair and regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Despite the demonstrated capability of bridging the distal and proximal peripheral nerves, it remains a significant challenge with current artificial nerve conduits to achieve the desired physiological functions, e.g., the transmission of electrical stimuli. Herein, we explored the possibility of combining the conductive properties of graphene with electrospun nanofiber to create the electroactive biomimetic scaffolds for nerve tissue regeneration. In vitro and in vivo studies were carried out: (1) In vitro, the conductive nanofibrous scaffolds significantly promoted SC migration, proliferation and myelination including myelin specific gene expression and neurotrophicfactor secretion, and induced PC12 cell differentiation with electrical stimulation. (2) In vivo, the conductive nerve guidance conduit exhibited similar effects with the gold standard autograft. In view of the performance of this conductive scaffold in modulating the cell functions in vitro and promoting nerve regeneration in vivo, it is expected that the graphene-modified nanofibrous scaffolds will exhibit their potential in peripheral nerve repair and regeneration.

Influence of magnetic field on morphological structures and physiological characteristics of bEnd.3 cells cultured on polypyrrole substrates

This paper employs a spin-coated method to construct conductive polypyrrole (PPy) substrates which present superior properties for controlling the morphological structures and functions of bEnd.3 cells. The PPy substrates with a homogeneous particle size, uniform distribution and proper roughness show enhanced hydrophilic characteristics and improve cell adhesion to the substrates. The changes in the mechanical properties of cells and the responses to the designed substrates and magnetic field are also explored. Due to the synergistic effect between the magnetic field and the conductive PPy substrate, the cells cultured in such an environment exhibit applanate shapes with more branches and enhanced cell viability. In addition, the cells preferentially extend along the magnetic field direction. The mechanical characteristics of cells change significantly under varying magnetic intensity stimulations (5–16 mT). The satisfying effect on cells' morphology and outgrowth is acquired at the magnetic intensities of 9–10 mT and duration of 20 min, compared with other stimulated groups, while retaining cell viability. Moreover, the cells express higher adhesion up to 5.2 nN. The results suggest that the application of the PPy substrates and magnetic field is a promising candidate for the protection of neurovascular units and treatment of neurological diseases.

The combination of magnetic stimulation and polypyrrole (PPy) substrates regulate the bEnd.3 cells mechanical and physical characterizations.

A study on graphene composites for peripheral nerve injury repair under electrical stimulation

Electrical stimulation (ES) provides an effective alternative to peripheral nerve repair via conductive scaffolds. The aim of the present study is to investigate a graphene (GR)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composite for the repair of peripheral nerve injury under ES. To this end, conductive composite membranes were fabricated by blending GR (2, 4 and 6 wt%) with TPU. GR maintains its own structure in the composite and enhances the mechanical and electrical properties of the composite. The composites with excellent biocompatibility had a hemolysis rate of less than 5%. As a result, the 4GR–TPU (4 wt% GR) sample with enhanced mechanical properties possessed the highest conductivity value of 33.45 ± 0.78 S m⁻¹. Compared with the non-conductive sample, 4GR–TPU was favorable for the viability of Schwann cells (SCs) under ES. When different voltages of ES were applied, a direct current of 10 mV was more suitable for the growth and proliferation of SCs. This study provides beneficial information for peripheral nerve repair via ES.

Electrical stimulation (ES) provides an effective alternative to peripheral nerve repair via conductive scaffolds.

Bioactive Silk-Based Nerve Guidance Conduits for Augmenting Peripheral Nerve Repair

Repair of peripheral nerve injuries depends upon complex biology stemming from the manifold and challenging injury-healing processes of the peripheral nervous system. While surgical treatment options are available, they tend to be characterized by poor clinical outcomes for the injured patients. This is particularly apparent in the clinical management of a nerve gap whereby nerve autograft remains the best clinical option despite numerous limitations; in addition, effective repair becomes progressively more difficult with larger gaps. Nerve conduit strategies based on tissue engineering approaches and the use of silk as scaffolding material have attracted much attention in recent years to overcome these limitations and meet the clinical demand of large gap nerve repair. This review examines the scientific advances made with silk-based conduits for peripheral nerve repair. The focus is on enhancing bioactivity of the conduits in terms of physical guidance cues, inner wall and lumen modification, and imbuing novel conductive functionalities.

All-Organic Conductive Biomaterial as an Electroactive Cell Interface

Various attractive materials are being used in bioelectronics recently. In this paper, hydroxymethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT-OH) has been in situ integrated and polymerized on the surface of the regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) film to construct a biocompatible electrode. In order to improve the efficiency of in situ polymerization, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was adopted as surfactant to construct a well-organized and stable poly(hydroxymethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT-OH) coating, whereas ammonium persulfate was used as oxidant. The effects of dosages of surfactant and oxidant, initial pH value, and monomer concentration on the polymerization were studied. Under the optimal conditions, the RSF/PEDOT-OH film exhibited a square resistance of 3.28 × 10⁵ Ω corresponding to a conductance of 6.1 × 10^-3 S/cm. Scanning electron microscope images indicated that PEDOT-OH was deposited uniformly on the surface of the RSF film with SDS. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that interactions existed between the peptide linkages of silk fibroin (SF) macromolecules and PEDOT-OH. The RSF/PEDOT-OH film displayed favorable electrochemical stability, biocompatibility, and fastness. This study provides a feasible method to endow conductivity to RSF materials in various forms. In addition, the conductive layer and biocompatible silk substrate make the RSF/PEDOT-OH biomaterial highly suitable for potential applications in bioelectric devices, sensors, and tissue engineering.

Amine-Functionalized Electrically Conductive Core-Sheath MEH-PPV:PCL Electrospun Nanofibers for Enhanced Cell-Biomaterial Interactions

In the present study, a conducting polymer, poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) along with a biodegradable polymer poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) was used to prepare an electrically conductive, biocompatible, bioactive, and biodegradable nanofibrous scaffold for possible use in neural tissue engineering applications. Core-sheath electrospun nanofibers of PCL as the core and MEH-PPV as the sheath, were surface-functionalized with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) and 1,6-hexanediamine to obtain amine-functionalized surface to facilitate cell-biomaterial interactions with the aim of replacing the costly biomolecules such as collagen, fibronectin, laminin, and arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide for surface modification. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the formation of core-sheath morphology of the electrospun nanofibers, whereas Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed successful incorporation of amine functionality after surface functionalization. Adhesion, spreading, and proliferation of 3T3 fibroblasts were enhanced on the surface-functionalized electrospun meshes, whereas the neuronal model rat pheochromocytoma 12 (PC12) cells also adhered and differentiated into sympathetic neurons on these meshes. Under a constant electric field of 500 mV for 2 h/day for 3 consecutive days, the PC12 cells displayed remarkable improvement in the neurite formation and outgrowth on the surface-functionalized meshes that was comparable to those on the collagen-coated meshes under no electrical signal. Electrical stimulation studies further demonstrated that electrically stimulated PC12 cells cultured on collagen I coated meshes yielded more and longer neurites than those of the unstimulated cells on the same scaffolds. The enhanced neurite growth and differentiation suggest the potential use of these scaffolds for neural tissue engineering applications.

Conducting Polymers for Tissue Engineering

Electrically conducting polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, and their derivatives (mainly aniline oligomer and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)) with good biocompatibility find wide applications in biomedical fields including bioactuators, biosensors, neural implants, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering scaffolds. This review focuses on these conductive polymers for tissue engineering applications. Conductive polymers exhibit promising conductivity as bioactive scaffolds for tissue regeneration, and their conductive nature allows cells or tissue cultured on them to be stimulated by electrical signals. However, their mechanical brittleness and poor processability restrict their application. Therefore, conductive polymeric composites based on conductive polymers and biocompatible biodegradable polymers (natural or synthetic) were developed. The major objective of this review is to summarize the conductive biomaterials used in tissue engineering including conductive composite films, conductive nanofibers, conductive hydrogels, and conductive composite scaffolds fabricated by various methods such as electrospinning, coating, or deposition by in situ polymerization. Furthermore, recent progress in tissue engineering applications using these conductive biomaterials including bone tissue engineering, muscle tissue engineering, nerve tissue engineering, cardiac tissue engineering, and wound healing application are discussed in detail.

Electroactive polymers for tissue regeneration: Developments and perspectives

Human body motion can generate a biological electric field and a current, creating a voltage gradient of -10 to -90 mV across cell membranes. In turn, this gradient triggers cells to transmit signals that alter cell proliferation and differentiation. Several cell types, counting osteoblasts, neurons and cardiomyocytes, are relatively sensitive to electrical signal stimulation. Employment of electrical signals in modulating cell proliferation and differentiation inspires us to use the electroactive polymers to achieve electrical stimulation for repairing impaired tissues. Electroactive polymers have found numerous applications in biomedicine due to their capability in effectively delivering electrical signals to the seeded cells, such as biosensing, tissue regeneration, drug delivery, and biomedical implants. Here we will summarize the electrical characteristics of electroactive polymers, which enables them to electrically influence cellular function and behavior, including conducting polymers, piezoelectric polymers, and polyelectrolyte gels. We will also discuss the biological response to these electroactive polymers under electrical stimulation. In particular, we focus this review on their applications in regenerating different tissues, including bone, nerve, heart muscle, cartilage and skin. Additionally, we discuss the challenges in tissue regeneration applications of electroactive polymers. We conclude that electroactive polymers have a great potential as regenerative biomaterials, due to their ability to stimulate desirable outcomes in various electrically responsive cells.

Dual drug loaded coaxial electrospun PLGA/PVP fiber for guided tissue regeneration under control of infection

Electrospinning promisingly fabricate mats for Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR). Due to a chronic inflammatory pathology in periodontal, it is highly desirable to develop a novel GTR mats to realize tissue regeneration under control of infection. In the study, coaxial electrospinning was firstly conducted to fabricate dual drug loaded fiber mats with core/shell structure. Naringin-loaded polyvinylpyrrolidone was designed as core fiber to enrich tissue regeneration and metronidazole-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) as shell fiber to inhibit bacterial. TEM revealed that the fibers with distinct core/shell structure were in an outer diameter of 1.5-1.7 μm with an inner diameter of <1.0 μm. The loading of dual drug decreased the tensile strength and elongation of the coaxial fiber mats. On in vitro assessment, metronidazole had a short-term release while naringin had a long-term release behavior in all the coaxial mats. The colonization of anaerobic bacteria on the mats effectively were inhibited over 21 days. Furthermore, the dual drug loaded coaxial fiber mats were observed to positively supported the adhesion and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 and was conductive to high alkaline phosphatase express. Thus, a simple and effective coaxial electrospinning approach was demonstrated for the fabrication of anti-infective GTR mats with promoting tissue regeneration.

Polyaniline nanofibers: broadening applications for conducting polymers

Polyaniline is a conducting polymer with incredible promise, but it has had limited use due to poor reaction control and processability associated with conventional morphologies. Polyaniline nanofibers, on the other hand, have demonstrated, through manufacturing techniques discovered during the past decade, increased processability, higher surface area, and improved consistency and stability in aqueous dispersions, which are finally allowing for expanded commercial development of this promising polymer. This review explores some intriguing applications of polyaniline nanofibers, as well as the advantages and remaining challenges in developing better products using polyaniline in this new morphology.

Intrinsically Conductive Polymer Nanocomposites for Cellular Applications

Intrinsically conductive polymer nanocomposites have a remarkable potential for cellular applications such as biosensors, drug delivery systems, cell culture systems and tissue engineering biomaterials. Intrinsically conductive polymers transmit electrical stimuli between cells, and induce regeneration of electroactive tissues such as muscle, nerve, bone and heart. However, biocompatibility and processability are common issues for intrinsically conductive polymers. Conductive polymer composites are gaining importance for tissue engineering applications due to their excellent mechanical, electrical, optical and chemical functionalities. Here, we summarize the different types of intrinsically conductive polymers containing electroactive nanocomposite systems. Cellular applications of conductive polymer nanocomposites are also discussed focusing mainly on poly(aniline), poly(pyrrole), poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene) and poly(thiophene).

Electrospun silk-polyaniline conduits for functional nerve regeneration in rat sciatic nerve injury model

The present study describes the fabrication of polyaniline-silk fibroin (PASF) nanocomposite-based nerve conduits and their subsequent implantation in a rat sciatic nerve injury model for peripheral nerve regeneration. This is the first in vivo study of polyaniline-based nerve conduits describing the safety and efficacy of the conduits in treating peripheral nerve injuries. The nanocomposite was synthesized by electrospinning a mixture of silk fibroin protein and polyaniline wherein the silk nanofibers were observed to be uniformly coated with polyaniline nanoparticles. Tubular shaped nerve conduits were subsequently formed by multiple rolling of the electrospun sheet over a stainless steel mandrel. The conduits were characterized in vitro for their physico-chemical properties as well as their compatibility with rat Schwann cells. Upon implantation in a 10 mm sciatic nerve injury model, the conduits were evaluated for their neuro-regenerative potential through extensive electrophysiological studies and monitoring of gait pattern over a course of 12 months. Gross examination, histological and ultra-structure analyses of the conduits and the regenerated nerve were also performed to evaluate morphological regeneration of transected nerve. PASF nanocomposite conduits seeded with Schwann cell (cell seeded PASF) exhibited excellent nerve conduction velocity (NCV) (50 m s^-1), compound muscle action potential (CMAP) (12.8 mV), motor unit potential (MUP) (124 μV), growth of healthy tissue along the nerve gap and thick myelination of axons 12 months after implantation indicating enhanced neuro-regeneration. The excellent functional recovery achieved by animals implanted with cell seeded PASF conduits (86.2% NCV; 80.00% CMAP; 76.07% MUP) are superior to outcomes achieved previously with similar electrically conductive conduits. We believe that the present study would encourage further research in developing electrically active neural implants using synthetic conducting polymers and the in vivo applications of the same.

Composite electrospun nanofibers of reduced graphene oxide grafted with poly(3-dodecylthiophene) and poly(3-thiophene ethanol) and blended with polycaprolactone

In this paper, an effective method was employed for preparation of nanofibers using conducting polymer-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO). First, graphene oxide (GO) was obtained from graphite by Hommer method. GO was reduced to rGO by NaBH₄ and covalently functionalized with a 3-thiophene acetic acid (TAA) by an esterification reaction to reach 3-thiophene acetic acid-functionalized reduced graphene oxide macromonomer (rGO-f-TAAM). Afterward, rGO-f-TAAM was copolymerized with 3-dodecylthiophene (3DDT) and 3-thiophene ethanol (3TEt) to yield rGO-f-TAA-co-PDDT (rGO-g-PDDT) and rGO-f-TAA-co-P3TEt (rGO-g-PTEt), which were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectra. The grafted materials depicted better electrochemical properties and superior solubilities in organic solvents compared to GO and rGO. The soluble rGO-g-PDDT and rGO-g-PTEt composites blended with polycaprolactone were fabricated by electrospinning, and then cytotoxicity, hydrophilicity, biodegradability and mechanical properties were investigated. The grafted rGO composites exhibited a good electroactivity behavior, mainly because of the enhanced electrochemical performance. The electrospun nanofibers underwent degradation about 7 wt% after 40 days, and the fabricated scaffolds were not able to induce cytotoxicity in mouse osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. The soluble conducting composites developed in this study are utilizable in the fabrication of nanofibers with tissue engineering application.

Conductive and biodegradable scaffolds based on a five-arm and functionalized star-like polyaniline–polycaprolactone copolymer with a d-glucose core

The scaffolds demonstrated a porous structure with a large surface area and electrical conductivity, imitating the ECM to regulate cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation.

Poly(l-lysine) modified zein nanofibrous membranes as efficient scaffold for adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of neural stem cells

Cell viability, adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) on zein nanofibrous membranes could be improved by poly(l-lysine) modification.

Polypyrrole-coated poly(l-lactic acid-co-ε-caprolactone)/silk fibroin nanofibrous membranes promoting neural cell proliferation and differentiation with electrical stimulation

Polypyrrole (Ppy), as a conductive polymer, is commonly used for nerve tissue engineering because of its good conductivity and non-cytotoxicity. To avoid the inconvenience of Ppy processing, it was coated on electrospun poly(l-lactic acid-co-ε-caprolactone)/silk fibroin (PLCL/SF) nanofibers via the in situ oxidative polymerization of pyrrole monomers in this study. Ppy-coated PLCL/SF membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The results confirmed the disposition of Ppy on the PLCL/SF nanofibers, and the nanofibers kept their nanofibrous morphology and thermal stability, in comparison to the untreated ones. The conductivities and water contact angles were evaluated as well, and indicated that the conductivity and hydrophilicity of Ppy-coated nanofibers were increased. Furthermore, this study showed that electrical stimulation (ES) promoted PC12 cell differentiation and axonal extension on Ppy-coated nanofibers. The MTT assay suggested that both Ppy and ES could promote Schwann cell (SC) proliferation. Immunofluorescence staining and real time-qPCR (RT-qPCR) testing demonstrated that ES could induce PC12 cell differentiation even without nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment, and moreover, Ppy coating increased the inducing effects on PC12 cell differentiation. The overall results indicated the promising potential of Ppy-coated PLCL/SF nanofibrous membranes for peripheral nerve repair and regeneration.

Preparation of polypyrrole-embedded electrospun poly(lactic acid) nanofibrous scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering

Polypyrrole (PPy) is a biocompatible polymer with good conductivity. Studies combining PPy with electrospinning have been reported; however, the associated decrease in PPy conductivity has not yet been resolved. We embedded PPy into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibers via electrospinning and fabricated a PLA/PPy nanofibrous scaffold containing 15% PPy with sustained conductivity and aligned topography. There was good biocompatibility between the scaffold and human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells as well as Schwann cells. Additionally, the direction of cell elongation on the scaffold was parallel to the direction of fibers. Our findings suggest that the aligned PLA/PPy nanofibrous scaffold is a promising biomaterial for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Fabrication of Nerve Growth Factor Encapsulated Aligned Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Nanofibers and Their Assessment as a Potential Neural Tissue Engineering Scaffold

Peripheral nerve injury is a serious clinical problem to be solved. There has been no breakthrough so far and neural tissue engineering offers a promising approach to promote the regeneration of peripheral neural injuries. In this study, emulsion electrospinning technique was introduced as a flexible and promising technique for the fabrication of random (R) and aligned (A) Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)&Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) nanofibrous scaffolds [(R/A)-PCL-NGF&BSA], where NGF and BSA were encapsulated in the core while PCL form the shell. Random and aligned pure PCL, PCL-BSA, and PCL-NGF nanofibers were also produced for comparison. The scaffolds were characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and water contact angle test. Release study showed that, with the addition of stabilizer BSA, a sustained release of NGF from emulsion electrospun PCL nanofibers was observed over 28 days. [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt; MTS] assay revealed that (R/A)-PCL-NGF and (R/A)-PCL-NGF&BSA scaffolds favored cell growth and showed no cytotoxicity to PC12 cells. Laser scanning confocal microscope images exhibited that the A-PCL-NGF&BSA scaffold increased the length of neurites and directed neurites extension along the fiber axis, indicating that the A-PCL-NGF&BSA scaffold has a potential for guiding nerve tissue growth and promoting nerve regeneration.

Novel three-dimensional, conducting, biocompatible, porous, and elastic polyaniline-based scaffolds for regenerative therapies

Fabrication of two novel three-dimensional, conducting, biocompatible, porous, and elastic scaffolds composed of hyperbranched aliphatic polyesters, polyaniline, and poly(ε-caprolactone) for tissue engineering applications.

Multi-functional electrospun nanofibres for advances in tissue regeneration, energy conversion & storage, and water treatment

This Tutorial Review focuses on recent applications of electrospun materials in tissue regeneration, energy conversion & storage, and water treatment areas.

Multiwalled carbon nanotube reinforced biomimetic bundled gel fibres

Biomimetic bundled fibre: Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced bundled gel fibre is reported to obtain a cell culture scaffold with enhanced mechanical and electrical properties.

Nanostructured Polyaniline Coating on ITO Glass Promotes the Neurite Outgrowth of PC 12 Cells by Electrical Stimulation

A conducting polymer polyaniline (PANI) with nanostructure was synthesized on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass. The effect of electrical stimulation on the proliferation and the length of neurites of PC 12 cells was investigated. The dynamic protein adsorption on PANI and ITO surfaces in a cell culture medium was also compared with and without electrical stimulation. The adsorbed proteins were characterized using SDS-PAGE. A PANI coating on ITO surface was shown with 30-50 nm spherical nanostructure. The number of PC 12 cells was significantly greater on the PANI/ITO surface than on ITO and plate surfaces after cell seeding for 24 and 36 h. This result confirmed that the PANI coating is nontoxic to PC 12 cells. The electrical stimulation for 1, 2, and 4 h significantly enhanced the cell numbers for both PANI and ITO conducting surfaces. Moreover, the application of electrical stimulation also improved the neurite outgrowth of PC 12 cells, and the number of PC 12 cells with longer neurite lengths increased obviously under electrical stimulation for the PANI surface. From the mechanism, the adsorption of DMEM proteins was found to be enhanced by electrical stimulation for both PANI/ITO and ITO surfaces. A new band 2 (around 37 kDa) was observed from the collected adsorbed proteins when PC 12 cells were cultured on these surfaces, and culturing PC 12 cells also seemed to increase the amount of band 1 (around 90 kDa). When immersing PANI/ITO and ITO surfaces in a DMEM medium without a cell culture, the number of band 3 (around 70 kDa) and band 4 (around 45 kDa) proteins decreased compared to that of PC 12 cell cultured surfaces. These results are valuable for the design and improvement of the material performance for neural regeneration.

A biomimetic 3D microtubule-orientated poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffold with interconnected pores for tissue engineering

An ideal tissue engineering scaffold should imitate physical and biochemical cues of natural extracellular matrix and have interconnected porous structures with high porosity to provide adequate space for cell seeding, growth and proliferation, as well as nutrient delivery and metabolized product elimination. In this study, we examined the feasibility of fabricating microtubule-orientated poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) scaffolds with interconnected pores (denoted as MOIP-PLGA) by an improved thermal-induced phase separation technique. We successfully constructed MOIP-PLGA using 1,4-dioxane as the first solvent and benzene or water with lower freezing point as the second solvent. Especially, when water was used, the MOIP-PLGA had higher porosity and it could guide rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) to better grow along the microtubule direction of the scaffold. Comparing with microtubule-orientated scaffold without interconnected pores (denoted as MONIP-PLGA), the proliferation and viability of SMCs cultured on MOIP-PLGA were higher. Moreover, basic fibroblast growth factor could be effectively bound on MOIP-PLGA by a plasma treatment technique and the growth factor could be slowly released in vitro, maintaining bioactivity.

AB2 Y-shaped miktoarm star conductive polyaniline-modified poly(ethylene glycol) and its electrospun nanofiber blend with poly(ε-caprolactone)

The aim of this study is the synthesis, and characterization of novel type AB₂ Y-shaped miktoarm star conductive polyaniline-modified poly(ethylene glycol), and preparation of its electrospun nanofibers blend with poly(ε-caprolactone).