Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
09:29
Electrospinning Growth Factor Releasing Microspheres into Fibrous Scaffolds
Published on: August 16, 2014
Electrospun aligned PHBV/collagen nanofibers as substrates for nerve tissue engineering
Molamma P Prabhakaran1, Elham Vatankhah, Seeram Ramakrishna
1Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, E3-05-14, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, 117576, Singapore. nnimpp@nus.edu.sg
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|April 25, 2013
Summary
Aligned Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/collagen nanofibers promote nerve regeneration. These scaffolds guide nerve cell growth and extension, showing promise for bioengineered nerve grafts.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Nerve regeneration after injury is a significant therapeutic challenge.
- Scaffold cues, including chemical and topographical, are vital for directing nerve growth.
- Electrospun nanofibers offer a promising platform for nerve tissue regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate random and aligned Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and PHBV/collagen nanofibers using electrospinning.
- To evaluate the biocompatibility and neurite extension of nerve cells (PC12) on these scaffolds.
- To assess the potential of aligned PHBV/collagen nanofibers as substrates for nerve regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Electrospinning was used to create random and aligned PHBV and PHBV/collagen nanofibers.
- Nerve cells (PC12) were cultured on the fabricated scaffolds.
- Immunostaining and cell proliferation assays were performed to evaluate cell behavior and neurite extension.
Main Results:
- Aligned PHBV/collagen nanofibers exhibited fiber diameters between 205-266 nm.
- Aligned PHBV/Coll50:50 nanofibers showed significantly higher nerve cell proliferation (40.01%) compared to other tested scaffolds.
- Aligned nanofibers provided contact guidance, promoting elongated cell morphology and bipolar neurite extension.
Conclusions:
- Aligned PHBV/collagen nanofibers serve as effective substrates for nerve regeneration.
- These aligned scaffolds demonstrate superior performance compared to random nanofibers for nerve tissue engineering applications.
- The study highlights the potential of aligned PHBV/collagen nanofibers as bioengineered grafts for nerve repair.
