Abstract
In neuroscience research, cell culture systems are essential experimental platforms. It is of great interest to explore in vivo-like culture substrates. We explored how basic properties of neural cells, nuclei polarization, phenotypic differentiation and distribution/migration, were affected by the culture at poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) fibrous scaffolds, using a multipotent mitogen-expanded human neural progenitor cell (HNPC) line. HNPCs were seeded, at four different surfaces: two different electrospun PLLA (d = 1.2 - 1.3 μm) substrates (parallel or random aligned fibers), and planar PLL- and PLLA surfaces. Nuclei analysis demonstrated a non-directed cellular migration at planar surfaces and random fibers, different from cultures at aligned fibers where HNPCs were oriented parallel with the fibers. At aligned fibers, HNPCs displayed the same capacity for phenotypic differentiation as after culture on the planar surfaces. However, at random fibers, HNPCs showed a significant lower level of phenotypic differentiation compared with cultures at the planar surfaces. A clear trend towards greater neuronal formation at aligned fibers, compared to cultures at random fibers, was noted. We demonstrated that the topography of in vivo-resembling PLLA scaffolds significantly influences HNPC behavior, proven by different migration behavior, phenotypic differentiation potential and nuclei polarization. This knowledge is useful in future exploration of in vivo-resembling neural cell system using electrospun scaffolds.
Highlights
IntroductionAdvanced in vitro cell culture systems mimicking this 3D environment would most probably generate more relevant initial experimental results, and subsequently a more reliable translation to complex models
We demonstrated that the topography of in vivo-resembling poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffolds significantly influences human neural progenitor cell (HNPC) behavior, proven by different migration behavior, phenotypic differentiation potential and nuclei polarization
For the first time we reported a significant effect of chemical respective physical cues on post-natal mouse retinal cell behavior using different designed electrospun fibrous scaffolds [24]
Summary
Advanced in vitro cell culture systems mimicking this 3D environment would most probably generate more relevant initial experimental results, and subsequently a more reliable translation to complex models. This is a cornerstone for tissue engineering approaches, and electrospinning is a widely-used technique for fabrication of ECM mimicking fibrous scaffolds [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. Promising, increased understanding on the key physicaland chemical cues of electrospun fibrous substrates for supporting survival- and controlling neural cell behavior is needed for further advancements in many research fields in neuroscience. Nanotopography per se significantly affected cell morphology, but the chemical cue, i.e. ECM component laminin, was found to be stronger than the physical cue for the orientation of retinal neurites
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