Objective Poly (propylene carbonate) (PPC), a newly reported polymer, has good biodegradabil ity and biocompatibil ity. To explore the feasibil ity of using electrospinning PPC materials in nerve tissue engineering, and to observe the effect of al igned and random PPC materials on axonal growth of rat dorsal root gangl ions (DRGs) in vitro. Methods Either al igned or randomly oriented sub-micron scale polymeric fiber was prepared with an electrospinning process. DRGs were harvested from 3 newborn Sprague-Dawley rats (female or male, weighing 4-6 g), and were incubated into 12-pore plate containing either al igned (the experimental group, n=6) or randomly oriented sub-micron scale polymeric fiber (the control group, n=6). The DRGs growth was observed with an inverted microscope; at 7 days immunofluorescent staining and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) observation were performed to quantify the extent of neurite growth and
Schwann cells (SCs) migration. Results Either al igned or random fibers were fabricated by an electrospinning process. The diameter of the individual fiber ranged between 800 nm and 1 200 nm. In al igned PPC material, 90% fibers arranged in long axis direction, but the fibers in random PPC material arranged in all directions. The DRGs grew well in 2 PPC materials. On
the al igned fiber film, the majority of neurite growth and SCs migration from the DRGs extended unidirectionally, parallel to the al igned fibers; however, neurite growth and SCs migration on the random fiber films oriented randomly. The extents of neurite growth were (2 684.7 ± 994.8) μm on the al igned fiber film and (504.7 ± 52.8) μm on the random fiber films, showing significant difference (t= —5.360, P=0.000). The distances of SCs migration were (2 770.6 ± 978.4) μm on the al igned fiber film and (610.2 ± 56.3) μm on the random fiber films, showing significant difference (t= —5.400, P=0.000). The extent of neurite growth was fewer than the distances of SCs migration in 2 groups. Conclusion The orientation structure of sub-micron scale
fibers determines the orientation and extent of DRGs neurite growth and SCs migration. Al igned electrospinning PPC fiber is proved to be a promising biomaterial for nerve regeneration.
Citation： ZHAO Zhe,WANG Yu,PENG Jiang,QI Hongxu,ZHAO Bin,ZHANG Li,HUANG Jingxiang,XU Wenjing,LU Shibi. INFLUENCE OF ALIGNED ELECTROSPINNING POLY (PROPYLENE CARBONATE) ON AXONAL GROWTH OF DORSAL ROOT GANGLION IN VITRO. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2011, 25(2): 171-175. doi: Copy