Abstract
Abstract Electrospun nanofibrous nerve implants is a promising therapy for peripheral nerve injury, and its performance can be tailored by chemical cues, topographical features as well as electrical properties. In this paper, a surface modified, electrically conductive, aligned nanofibrous scaffold composed of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and polypyrrole (Ppy), referred to as o-PLAPpy_A, was fabricated for nerve regeneration. The morphology, surface chemistry and hydrophilicity of nanofibers were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle, respectively. The effects of these nanofibers on neuronal differentiation using \PC12\ cells were evaluated. A hydrophilic surface was created by Poly-ornithine coating, which was able to provide a better environment for cell attachment, and furthermore aligned fibers were proved to be able to guide \PC12\ cells grow along the fiber direction and be beneficial for neurite outgrowth. The cellular response of \PC12\ cells to pulsed electrical stimulation was evaluated by \NF\ 200 and alpha tubulin expression, indicating that electrical stimulation with a voltage of 40 mV could enhance the neurite outgrowth. The \PC12\ cells stimulated with electrical shock showed greater level of neurite outgrowth and smaller cell body size. Moreover, the \PC12\ cells under electrical stimulation showed better viability. In summary, the o-PLAPpy_A nanofibrous scaffold supported the attachment, proliferation and differentiation of \PC12\ cells in the absence of electrical stimulation, which could be potential candidate for nerve regeneration applications.
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