Guidance of neurite outgrowth on aligned electrospun polypyrrole/poly(styrene-β-isobutylene-β-styrene) fiber platforms

Authors

Xiao Liu, University of WollongongFollow
J Chen, University of WollongongFollow
K. J. Gilmore, University of WollongongFollow
Michael J. Higgins, University of WollongongFollow
Yong LiuFollow
Gordon G. Wallace, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

33274

Publication Details

Liu, X., Chen, J., Gilmore, K. J., Higgins, M. J., Liu, Y. & Wallace, G. G. (2010). Guidance of neurite outgrowth on aligned electrospun polypyrrole/poly(styrene-β-isobutylene-β-styrene) fiber platforms. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 94A (4), 1004-1011.

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to investigate the potential biomedical application of novel aligned electrospun polypyrrole (PPy)/poly(styrene-β-isobutylene-β-styrene) (SIBS) fibers. After successfully aligning the electroactive PPy/SIBS fibers based on our modified electrospinning method, we demonstrated that neurite outgrowth from PC12 cells could be highly orientated parallel to the aligned PPy/SIBS fibers. Physical interactions between the nerve cells and PPy/SIBS fibers through filopodia “sensing” were observed using atomic force microscopy. These observations indicate a role of contact guidance as a mechanism for the observed alignment. This work highlights the capacity for electroactive PPy/SIBS fibers to support and guide nerve cell differentiation through topographic cues, which is a highly desirable characteristic in medical implants for neurological applications.

Grant Number

ARC/FF0669110

Additional Grant Number

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/FF0669110