Abstract
Electrospinning is a fabrication technique used to produce nano-or micro-diameter fibers to generate biocompatible, biodegradable scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Electro spun fiber scaffolds are advantageous for neural regeneration because they mimic the structure of the nervous system extracellular matrix and provide contact guidance for regenerating axons. Glia are non-neuronal regulatory cells that maintain homeostasis in the healthy nervous system and regulate regeneration in the injured nervous system. Electro spun fiber scaffolds offer a wide range of characteristics, such as fiber alignment, diameter, surface nano topography, and surface chemistry that can be engineered to achieve a desired glial cell response to injury. Further, electro spun fibers can be loaded with drugs, nucleic acids, or proteins to provide the local, sustained release of such therapeutics to alter glial cell phenotype to better support regeneration. This review provides the first comprehensive overview of how electro spun fiber alignment, diameter, surface nano topography, surface functionalization, and therapeutic delivery affect Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system and astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia in the central nervous system both in vitro and in vivo. The information presented can be used to design and optimize electro spun fiber scaffolds to target glial cell response to mitigate nervous system injury and improve regeneration.
Recommended Citation
D. L. Puhl et al., "Electrospun Fiber Scaffolds for Engineering Glial Cell Behavior to Promote Neural Regeneration," Bioengineering, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 1 - 34, article no. 4, MDPI, Jan 2021.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering8010004
Department(s)
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Publication Status
Open Access
Keywords and Phrases
Astrocytes; Electrospun fibers; Glia; Microglia; Oligodendrocytes; Schwann cells
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
2306-5354
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2025 The Authors, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Publication Date
01 Jan 2021
Comments
National Institutes of Health, Grant 3171