(15e) Electrospun Scaffolds for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Peripheral nerves require guidance mechanisms to regenerate over gaps larger than 1 cm. A tissue engineering scaffold implanted to bridge the gap between nerve ends can promote guided regeneration. Electrospun degradable polymer scaffolds are ideal due to controllable fiber size, degradability, and incorporation of stimulants. Additionally, it has been shown that cells adhere to and align themselves along the length of nanofibers. We have selected a copolymer of various blends of poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and elastin (bovine neck ligament) dissolved in hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFP) to produce electrospun scaffolds. PCL provided a controlled degradation rate under physiological conditions while elastin promoted cell attachment. Microscopy revealed repeatable nanofiber scaffolds were produced using electrospinning parameters of 11 kV and 12 cm collection distance. Day 9 embryonic chick dorsal root ganglia (E9 DRG) were seeded on the electrospun scaffolds in F12k media supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 50 ng/mL nerve growth factor (NGF). Preliminary tissue culture results showed DRG extend neurites that attach and align along the polymeric nanofibers. Biodegradation, neurite length, and biocompatibility varied for the different blends of PCL/elastin electrospun scaffolds.