The influence of physical structure and charge on neurite extension in a 3D hydrogel scaffold
Understanding neural cell differentiation and neurite extension in three-dimensional scaffolds is critical for neural tissue engineering. This study explores the structure-function relationship between a 3D hydrogel scaffold and neural cell process extension and examines the role of
ambient charge on neurite extension in 3D scaffolds. A range of agarose hydrogel concentrations was used to generate varied gel physical structures and the corresponding neurite extension was examined. Agarose gel concentration and the corresponding pore radius are important physical properties
that influence neural cell function. The average pore radii of the gels were determined while the gel was in the hydrated state and in two different dehydrated states. As the gel concentration was increased, the average pore radius decreased exponentially. Similarly, the length of neurites
extended by E9 chick DRGs cultured in agarose gels depends on gel concentration. The polycationic polysaccharide chitosan and the polyanionic polysaccharide alginate were used to incorporate charge into the 3D hydrogel scaffold, and neural cell response to charge was studied. Chitosan and
alginate were covalently bound to the agarose hydrogel backbone using the bi-functional coupling agent 1,1'carbonyldiimldazole. DRGs cultured in chitosan-coupled agarose gel exhibited a significant increase in neurite length compared to the unmodified agarose control. Conversely, the alginate-coupled
agarose gels significantly inhibited neurite extension. This study demonstrates a strong, correlation between the ability of sensory ganglia to extend neurites in 3D gels and the hydrogel pore radius. In addition, our results demonstrate that charged biopolymers influence neurite extension
in a polarity dependent manner.
Keywords: ECM; agarosc; alginate; chitosan; nerve; regeneration; tissue engineering
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Biomaterials, Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Wickenden Bldg. 504, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106-7207, USA 2: Sulzer-Carbomedics, 1300 B East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752, USA
Publication date: 01 January 1998
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