Electrically charged polymeric substrates enhance nerve fibre outgrowth In vitro

The physical, chemical and electrical properties of synthetic guidance devices are known to influence nerve regeneration in vivo. In the present study, neurons were cultured directly on electrically charged polymer growth substrates to determine if local electrical charges enhance nerve fibre outgro...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biomaterials 1992, Vol.13 (3), p.183-190
Main Authors: Valentini, Robert F., Vargo, Terrence G., Gardella, Joseph A., Aebischer, Patrick
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biocompatible Materials
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Adhesion
Cell Differentiation
Cell Division
Clone Cells
Cranial nerves. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system
Electricity
In Vitro Techniques
Materials Testing
Medical sciences
Membranes, Artificial
Nerve Fibers - physiology
Nerve regeneration
Nerve Regeneration - physiology
Neurites - physiology
Neurosurgery
piezoelectric polymers
Polyvinyls
surface characterization
Surface Properties
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
synthetic nerve guides
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The physical, chemical and electrical properties of synthetic guidance devices are known to influence nerve regeneration in vivo. In the present study, neurons were cultured directly on electrically charged polymer growth substrates to determine if local electrical charges enhance nerve fibre outgrowth in vitro. Piezoelectric polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) generate transient surface charges under minute mechanical strain. Mouse neuroblastoma (Nb2a) cells were cultured directly on electrically poled (i.e. piezoelectric) and unpoled (i.e. nonpiezoelectric) PVDF substrates in serum-free and serum-containing media. Nerve fibre outgrowth was analysed 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after plating. Piezoelectric PVDF substrates generated 2–3 mV at 1200 Hz when placed on standard incubator shelves and unpoled PVDF substrates showed no output. Nb2a cells grown on piezoelectric substrates exhibited significantly greater levels of process outgrowth and neurite lengths at all time periods for both media conditions. Detailed surface characterization of PVDF substrates using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and a comprehensive wettability profile revealed that poled and unpoled PVDF was chemically indistinguishable and showed similar surface wettabilities and adhesive properties. Therefore, we conclude that enhanced process outgrowth was induced by the film's piezoelectric output, making poled PVDF a unique biomaterial for which cell/polymer interactions are mediated predominantly through bulk electrical properties rather than surface properties.
ISSN:0142-9612
1878-5905
DOI:10.1016/0142-9612(92)90069-Z