Electric field bridging-effect in electrified microfibrils' scaffolds

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Neuroscience
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Biocompatible scaffolds with neural stem cells are crucial for neural tissue regeneration, especially after spinal cord injury (SCI).
• Aligned Polylactic Acid (PLA) microfibril scaffolds support cell survival and neural differentiation.
• PLA's insulating nature poses challenges for electrical functionalization of scaffolds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of PLA microfibril scaffolds on electric field (E-field) distribution in planar interdigitated electrodes.
• To assess the suitability of PLA scaffolds for electrical stimulation in neural regeneration applications.

Main Methods:

• Numerical study using Comsol Multiphysics software.
• Creation of realistic 3D CAD models of microfibril scaffolds.
• Numerical dosimetry to analyze E-field distribution under applied voltage.

Main Results:

• PLA microfibrils effectively redistribute and focus E-field streamlines in the spaces between fibers.
• Maximum E-field values reached up to 100 kV/m, comparable to devices without scaffolds.
• The median E-field within scaffolded electrodes was 90% of the nominal field, ensuring adequate cell exposure.

Conclusions:

• PLA microfibril scaffolds facilitate effective electrical field delivery for neural stem cell applications.
• The findings support the integration of electrical stimulation with PLA scaffolds for enhanced neural tissue repair.
• This research contributes to the development of functionalized scaffolds for regenerative medicine.