Electrospun Fiber Scaffolds for Engineering Glial Cell Behavior to Promote Neural Regeneration

Bioengineering, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering8010004 · Published: December 29, 2020

Simple Explanation

Electrospinning is used to create tiny nano or micro fibers that act as scaffolds for tissue engineering. These fiber scaffolds are good for nerve regeneration because they resemble the structure of the nervous system's extracellular matrix and guide nerve axons to regrow. The alignment, diameter, and surface of electrospun fibers can be adjusted to control how glial cells respond to injury and promote better nerve regeneration.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Not specified

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Aligned electrospun fibers with a diameter of about 1 µm promote stem cell differentiation into Schwann cells and guide Schwann cell elongation and migration.
2
Schwann cell adhesion and proliferation can be improved using nanoscale, randomly oriented fibers.
3
Adding ECM proteins or peptides to the fiber mat can enhance Schwann cell adhesion and proliferation on aligned micron-scale fibers.

Research Summary

Electrospun fiber scaffolds mimic the native ECM in the nervous system and provide contact guidance for regenerating neurons. The major glia in the PNS and CNS are affected by several electrospun fiber characteristics both in vitro and in vivo. Electrospun fiber scaffolds offer a wide range of design parameters that can be tailored to achieve a desired cell response.

Practical Implications

Optimized nerve grafts

Synthetic nerve grafts with aligned electrospun fibers enhance Schwann cell infiltration and nerve fiber remyelination.

Targeted CNS therapies

Electrospun fibers can deliver therapeutics that modulate glial reactivity and stimulate neuron regeneration in the CNS.

Improved functional recovery

Hybrid scaffolds combining aligned fibers with growth factors and enzymes can enhance regeneration and functional recovery after nervous system injury.

Study Limitations

1
Glial cell response to electrospun fiber characteristics in vitro will not always translate to glial cell response in vivo.
2
Glial cell response to electrospun fibers in an in vivo rodent model will not always translate to what may be observed at a clinical level in humans.
3
More work is needed to understand how electrospun fibers affect glia in vivo.

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