Three Dimensional Quercetin-Functionalized Patterned Scaffold: Development, Characterization, and In Vitro Assessment for Neural Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Regeneration of injured neuronal areas is a big challenge owing to the complex structure and function of the nervous system along with the limited regeneration capacity of neural cells. Recent reports show that patterned and functionalized scaffolds could control neural cell directional growth. In this study, aligned nanofibers (ANFs) were fabricated using a versatile and cost-effective approach, electrospinning, and further processed to make a patterned hybrid scaffold (HANF). The patterned scaffold had circular rings of ANFs reinforced in a biocompatible gellan–gelatin hydrogel matrix to provide adequate mechanical strength and contact guidance for adhesion and growth of neural cells in vitro . Quercetin was loaded into the nanofibrous scaffold to provide a functional agent that supported regeneration of neural cells. The reinforced ANFs enhanced the mechanical strength of the scaffold and provided a cylindrical nerve conduit structure to support neuronal cell growth. The influence of scaffold topology on cell behavior was assessed in in vitro cell culture conditions that revealed that the functionalized patterned scaffolds favored directed neurite cell growth/extension with favored cell culture morphology and showed no cytotoxicity toward neural cells. The results ultimately indicated that the fabricated scaffold has potential for guiding nerve tissue growth and can be used as nerve regeneration scaffolds.

Advances in Electrospun Nerve Guidance Conduits for Engineering Neural Regeneration

“…Quercetin offers antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties and can prevent oxidative stress-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders. This study reported that the proposed hybrid NGC enhance the regeneration process compared to the scaffold made of aligned electrospun nanofibers alone [41].…”

PCL NGCs integrated with urolithin-A-loaded hydrogels for nerve regeneration

“…According to research reports, lycopene, resveratrol, quercetin, triptolide, curcumin, ginkgo biloba extract, naringin, etc. have positive effects on nerve regeneration, [51][52][53][54][55][56] and generally anti-inflammatory effects. One of the primary causes of inadequate regeneration of peripheral nerves is inflammation and oxidative stress because these conditions, which develop after nerve injury, can result in secondary nerve damage and have an impact on the state of cell proliferation.…”

Gellan-Based Composite System as a Potential Tool for the Treatment of Nervous Tissue Injuries: Cross-Linked Electrospun Nanofibers Embedded in a RC-33-Loaded Freeze-Dried Matrix

“…The strategy most widely used to overcome these limitations is blending GG with a second synthetic non-ionic polymer, i.e., PEO or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) [ 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”