Directionality and bipolarity of olfactory ensheathing cells on electrospun nanofibers

As a preliminary to the construction of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) bearing scaffold for bridging larger lesions in the spinal cord, we have investigated the response of purified cultured OECs to nanoscale fibers of varying diameter using US FDA-approved, biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid).

Conventional electrospinning produced fibers of approximately 700 nm diameter (nano-700) while nanocomposite electrospinning with quantum dots produced significantly more uniform fibers of a reduced diameter to approximately 237 nm (nano-250). OECs from adult rat were FACS purified, cultured at low density on either a flat surface or a meshwork of randomly orientated nano-700 and nano-250 fibers, and assessed using cytomorphometric analysis of immunofluorescent confocal images and by scanning electron microscopy.

Compared with a flat surface, culture on a nano-700 mesh increases cell attachment. Cells change from rounded to stellate forms in random orientation. Further size reduction to the nano-250 favors bipolarity in cells with unidirectional orientation as observed in the case when transplanted OECs were used to bridge areas of damage in rat spinal cords.