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Published on: June 18, 2014
PC12 neuron-like cell response to electrospun poly( 3-hydroxybutyrate) substrates
Giada Graziana Genchi1, Gianni Ciofani, Alessandro Polini
1Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, The BioRobotics Institute, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, (Pisa), Italy; Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for MicroBioRobotics @SSSA, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, (Pisa), Italy.
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) fibers guide neuronal cell growth and dopamine production. Parallel PHB fibers promote aligned neurite extension, showing potential for neural regeneration applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Neuroscience
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Topographic properties of the extracellular environment significantly influence cell responses, crucial for tissue regeneration.
- Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable polymer with potential for biomedical applications.
- PC12 cells serve as a model for dopaminergic neurons, aiding research in neuronal differentiation and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) fiber topography on PC12 cell behavior.
- To evaluate the influence of random versus parallel PHB fiber orientation on neuronal differentiation and dopamine production.
- To assess the potential of PHB fibers for neural tissue engineering and regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Electrospinning of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) fibers with random and parallel orientations.
- Culture of PC12 cells on collagen-coated PHB fiber substrates.
- Assessment of cell adhesion, viability, proliferation, and dopamine production.
- Evaluation of neurite outgrowth (number, orientation, length) following nerve growth factor (NGF) administration.
Main Results:
- PC12 cells cultured on PHB fibers exhibited increased dopamine secretion compared to control cultures.
- Differentiated PC12 cells on parallel PHB fibers showed significantly longer and more aligned neurites than those on random fibers.
- The topography of PHB fibers demonstrably influenced cell differentiation and neurite extension.
Conclusions:
- PHB fibers can support and enhance dopamine production by PC12 cells, suggesting therapeutic potential for conditions with impaired dopamine levels.
- Parallel-oriented PHB fibers are particularly effective in promoting directed neurite growth, indicating suitability for peripheral nervous system regeneration applications.
- PHB fiber scaffolds represent a promising biomaterial for neural tissue engineering, offering tunable topographic cues for cellular response.
