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Abstract
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and its copolymer with trifluoroethylene (P(VDF-TrFE)) are considered as promising biomaterials for supporting nerve regeneration because of their proven biocompatibility and piezoelectric properties that could stimulate cell ingrowth due to their electrical activity upon mechanical deformation. For the first time, this study reports on the comparative analysis of PVDF and P(VDF-TrFE) electrospun scaffolds in terms of structural and piezoelectric properties as well as their in vitro performance. A dynamic impact test machine was developed, validated, and utilised, to evaluate the generation of an electrical voltage upon the application of an impact load (varying load magnitude and frequency) onto the electrospun PVDF (15–20 wt%) and P(VDF-TrFE) (10–20 wt%) scaffolds. The cytotoxicity and in vitro performance of the scaffolds was evaluated with neonatal rat (nrSCs) and adult human Schwann cells (ahSCs). The neurite outgrowth behaviour from sensory rat dorsal root ganglion neurons cultured on the scaffolds was analysed qualitatively. The results showed (i) a significant increase of the β-phase content in the PVDF after electrospinning as well as a zeta potential similar to P(VDF-TrFE), (ii) a non-constant behaviour of the longitudinal piezoelectric strain constant d33, depending on the load and the load frequency, and (iii) biocompatibility with cultured Schwann cells and guiding properties for sensory neurite outgrowth. In summary, the electrospun PVDF-based scaffolds, representing piezoelectric activity, can be considered as promising materials for the development of artificial nerve conduits for the peripheral nerve injury repair.
Highlights
Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) occur in about 2.8% of trauma patients [1] reflecting its treatment to be of great importance as the patients suffer from life-long symptoms such as neuropathic pain and the loss or disturbances in sensory and motor function [2,3]
Utilising two Schwann cells (SCs) types (neonatal rat as well as adult human SCs) and cultivating sensory dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons on the scaffolds, we evaluated the biocompatibility, SC morphology on the scaffolds, and neurite outgrowth behaviour to suggest that these polymers represent promising candidates for the future engineering of artificial nerve conduits for PNI repair
The results showed no significant differences in the released lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity (LDH) between the control and the neonatal rat Schwann cells (nrSCs) cultured on the scaffolds (Figure 8A,C)
Summary
Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) occur in about 2.8% of trauma patients [1] reflecting its treatment to be of great importance as the patients suffer from life-long symptoms such as neuropathic pain and the loss or disturbances in sensory and motor function [2,3]. Despite being the standard procedure, there are several disadvantages associated with the use of autologous nerve grafts: a need for secondary surgery, damage at the donor site including sensory loss and scarring, restrictions to the amount of donor tissue, a limited functional recovery and implant-associated infections [6,7,8]. In this regard, the development and application of biosynthetic nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) represents a huge potential for repairing and regenerating PNIs [9]. The porous biocompatible materials possessing piezoelectric activity, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and its copolymer polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene (P(VDF-TrFE)), could be advantageous to guide growing neurites and migrating SCs [16,17,18,19]
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