Designing Electrical Stimulation Platforms for Neural Cell Cultivation Using Poly(aniline): Camphorsulfonic Acid

Abstract

Electrical stimulation is a powerful strategy to improve the differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons. Such an approach can be implemented, in association with biomaterials and nanotechnology, for the development of new therapies for neurological diseases, including direct cell transplantation and the development of platforms for drug screening and disease progression evaluation. Poly(aniline):camphorsulfonic acid (PANI:CSA) is one of the most well-studied electroconductive polymers, capable of directing an externally applied electrical field to neural cells in culture. There are several examples in the literature on the development of PANI:CSA-based scaffolds and platforms for electrical stimulation, but no review has examined the fundamentals and physico-chemical determinants of PANI:CSA for the design of platforms for electrical stimulation. This review evaluates the current literature regarding the application of electrical stimulation to neural cells, specifically reviewing: (1) the fundamentals of bioelectricity and electrical stimulation; (2) the use of PANI:CSA-based systems for electrical stimulation of cell cultures; and (3) the development of scaffolds and setups to support the electrical stimulation of cells. Throughout this work, we critically evaluate the revised literature and provide a steppingstone for the clinical application of the electrical stimulation of cells using electroconductive PANI:CSA platforms/scaffolds.

Characterization of Stem Cells Response to Bipolar Microsecond Pulses Electric Stimulation

“…Several studies have demonstrated that neuronal differentiation, both of MSCs and NSCs, can be achieved by electrical stimulation [5,[28][29][30]; as well as it is possible to influence the neural lineage of differentiated NSCs through the electrical stimulation [7]. Responsible for the response to electrical stimulation are the voltage-gated calcium channels [29,31].…”

“…Organ regeneration involves careful regulation of cell division, movement, and positioning. During the embryogenesis, electrical signals serve to direct the formation of organs and limbs [7].…”

“…Several evidence have demonstrated how electrical 2 stimulation applied in different current modes, such as alternating, monophasic, biphasic, continuous, as well as with different frequency, voltage, and duration ranges, allows to determine different biological responses in different cell types, stem cells included [5,6]. Current studies show that externally applied electrical stimulation can impact neural stem cell morphology, migration, proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation [7].…”

“…All living cells present natural electric fields. Bioelectricity arises from a different accumulation of electric charges across cell membrane which is kept at its homeostasis by the passive flux of ions, or their active movement though ions channels [7]. This phenomenon highlights that the cells have a stable transmembrane potential (TMP), which makes them sensitive to the application of an external electric field that can alter this balance of charges.…”