Highly Aligned Nanocomposite Scaffolds by Electrospinning and Electrospraying for Neural Tissue Engineering

EURAL degeneration resulted from various traumas and diseases, represents a preponderance of health problem all over the world. Although various cell therapies and implants have been investigated, repairing damaged nerves and achieving full functional recovery are still challenging. For instance, autografts are usually difficult to collect sufficient donor nerves from patients in addition to possible impairment of donor site nerve function. Given the limited self-regeneration of neural system and defective clinical therapeutics at present, the development of novel strategies to improve and guide neural regeneration is desirable. Tissue engineering technique combined biomaterial and cell provides an attractive option in improving therapeutic effect in comparison with traditional clinical approaches. In this study, we developed a novel tissue engineered scaffold which possesses highly aligned poly caprolactone (PCL) microfibrous framework and bovine serum albumin (BSA) embedded poly (D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanospheres fabricated by electrospinning and electrospraying techniques. The aligned microfibers play a role in guiding axon propagation to the ultimate injured targets. Meanwhile, the introduction of BSA loaded PLGA nanospheres can alter the PCL scaffold’s surface properties (such as increased nano surface roughness and wettability) and promote neural cell adhesion and proliferation. More importantly, neurotropic factors could be easily loaded inside the PLGA nanospheres and be sustainably released to enhance neural tissue regeneration in a long term.