“Cell climbing stones” – varying the surfaces of electrospun nanofibers with protrusions as secondary structures to manipulate neural cell behaviors†
Abstract
Effective neural repair requires the precise regulation of neurite outgrowth and coordinated migration of neural stem cells (NSCs) and Schwann cells (SCs). The synergistic integration of topographical cues, chemical signals and electrical stimulation can significantly enhance this process, among which topographical modulation has emerged as a research focus due to its direct regulatory effects on cellular behavior. Micro/nanoscale topological features (nanogrooves and protrusions) can markedly promote neurite outgrowth and cell migration by matching the mechanical characteristics of growth cone filopodia (100–300 nm). Building upon our previous work, we designed a series of aligned nanofibers with SiO2 protrusions of varying sizes and concentrations to mimic “cell climbing stones,” systematically investigating their regulatory effects on neurite growth, and the migration of NSCs and SCs. The results demonstrated that nanofibers with oriented protrusions as secondary structures significantly enhanced the motility of SCs and NSCs while promoting neurite extension. Notably, nanofibers fabricated with 200 nm SiO2 nanoparticles blended with PCL at 6% SiO2 concentration exhibited the most pronounced regulatory effects on neural cell behavior.
- This article is part of the themed collection: Celebrating 10 Years of Nanoscale Horizons: 10th Anniversary Collection