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Updated: May 7, 2026
Localizing Protein in 3D Neural Stem Cell Culture: a Hybrid Visualization Methodology
Published on: December 19, 2010
3D presentation of a neurotrophic factor for the regulation of neural progenitor cells
Kun Zhou1, George Thouas, Claude Bernard
1Department of Materials Engineering, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia.
Background:
Adequate cell-scaffold interactions and neurotrophin support are essential factors for neural regeneration.
Aim:
To provide insight into the biofunctionalization of complex 3D scaffolds with nanoscale precision, as well as the effect of spatial distribution of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its prolonged stimulation in combination with enhanced cell affinity of nanofibrous scaffolds on the survival/proliferation and neurite outgrowth.
Methods & Materials:
We developed a versatile approach using layer-by-layer self-assembly to incorporate cell adhesion and spatial representation of neurotrophic factors into complex nanofibrous scaffolds.
Results:
Heparin/poly-L-lysine (PLL) polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) were deposited on electrospun poly-ε-caprolatone nanofibers. Well-controlled amounts of BDNF were immobilized on the PEM-modified nanofibers. In addition, longer neurite outgrowth was observed in neural progenitor cells cultured on PLL-terminating PEM scaffolds. The immobilized BDNF on PLL-terminated PEM scaffolds resulted in significantly longer neurites and higher cell numbers (p < 0.01) compared with BDNF-free and BDNF-adsorbed PLL-terminating scaffolds. Interestingly, there was no upregulation of TrkB-FL, TrkB-T1 or GAP-43 mRNAs with immobilized BDNF in day 5 cultures.
Discussion & Conclusion:
This work reinforces the importance of the combinatorial effects of biomaterial scaffold nanostructure and spatial presentation of neurotrophins in directing neural progenitor cell fates.
