Anisotropic scaffolds facilitate enhanced neurite extension in vitro
- 24 May 2006
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A
- Vol. 78A (2), 213-221
- https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.30747
Abstract
Tissue engineering (TE) techniques to enhance nerve regeneration following nerve damage have had limited success in matching the performance of autografts across short nerve gaps (< 10 mm). For regeneration over longer nerve gaps, TE techniques have been less successful than autografts. Most engineered scaffolds do not present directional cues to the regenerating nerves. In our efforts to design a TE scaffold to replace the autograft, we hypothesize that anisotropic hydrogel scaffolds with gradients of a growth‐promoting glycoprotein, laminin‐1 (LN‐1), may promote directional neurite extension and enhance regeneration. In this study we report the engineering of three‐dimensional (3D) agarose scaffolds with photoimmobilized gradients of LN‐1 of differing slopes. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) from chicken embryos were cultured in the agarose scaffolds and their neurite extension rate was determined. DRG neurite extension rates were significantly higher in the anisotropic scaffolds, with a maximal growth rate in an anisotropic scaffold twice that of the maximal growth rate in isotropic scaffolds of LN‐1. We suggest that these anisotropic scaffolds, presenting an optimal gradient of LN‐1, may significantly impact nerve regeneration. Such anisotropic scaffolds may represent a new generation of tissue engineered materials with built‐in directional cues for guided tissue or nerve regeneration. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006Keywords
This publication has 32 references indexed in Scilit:
- Tissue-Engineered Scaffolds Are Effective Alternatives to Autografts for Bridging Peripheral Nerve GapsTissue Engineering, 2003
- Molecular gradient along the axon pathway is not required for directional axon growthJournal of Neuroscience Research, 1998
- The Molecular Biology of Axon GuidanceScience, 1996
- Domain-specific antibodies against the B2 chain of laminin inhibit neuronal migration in the neonatal rat cerebellumJournal of Neuroscience Research, 1995
- Rapid effects of laminin on the growth coneNeuron, 1992
- Axon Guidance by Gradients of a Target-Derived ComponentScience, 1992
- Growth cone behavior on gradients of substratum bound lamininDevelopmental Biology, 1988
- Distribution of laminin in the developing peripheral nervous system of the chickDevelopmental Biology, 1986
- Neurite extension by peripheral and central nervous system neurons in response to substratum-bound fibronectin and lamininDevelopmental Biology, 1983
- Nerve growth factor, laminin, and fibronectin promote neurite growth in human fetal sensory ganglia culturesJournal of Neuroscience Research, 1982