Bioinspired Nanofiber Scaffold for Differentiating Bone Marrow-Derived Neural Stem Cells to Oligodendrocyte-Like Cells: Design, Fabrication, and Characterization

Abstract

Fatemeh Rasti Boroojeni,1,2 Shohreh Mashayekhan,1 Hojjat-Allah Abbaszadeh,3,4 Mohamadhasan Ansarizadeh,1,5 Maryam-Sadat Khoramgah,4 Vafa Rahimi Movaghar6 1Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; 2Division of Molecular Physics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 3Hearing Disorders Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Laser Application in Medical Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 5Biocenter Oulu, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; 6Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranCorrespondence: Hojjat-Allah AbbaszadehHearing Disorders Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 19395-4719, Tehran, Iran+98 21-22439976Email [email protected] Rahimi MovagharSina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: Researchers are trying to study the mechanism of neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiation to oligodendrocyte-like cells (OLCs) as well as to enhance the selective differentiation of NSCs to oligodendrocytes. However, the limitation in nerve tissue accessibility to isolate the NSCs as well as their differentiation toward oligodendrocytes is still challenging.Purpose: In the present study, a hybrid polycaprolactone (PCL)-gelatin nanofiber scaffold mimicking the native extracellular matrix and axon morphology to direct the differentiation of bone marrow-derived NSCs to OLCs was introduced.Materials and Methods: In order to achieve a sustained release of T3, this factor was encapsulated within chitosan nanoparticles and chitosan-loaded T3 was incorporated within PCL nanofibers. Polyaniline graphene (PAG) nanocomposite was incorporated within gelatin nanofibers to endow the scaffold with conductive properties, which resemble the conductive behavior of axons. Biodegradation, water contact angle measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations as well as conductivity tests were used to evaluate the properties of the prepared scaffold. The concentration of PAG and T3-loaded chitosan NPs in nanofibers were optimized by examining the proliferation of cultured bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the scaffolds. The differentiation of BMSCs-derived NSCs cultured on the fabricated scaffolds into OLCs was analyzed by evaluating the expression of oligodendrocyte markers using immunofluorescence (ICC), RT-PCR and flowcytometric assays.Results: Incorporating 2% PAG proved to have superior cell support and proliferation while guaranteeing electrical conductivity of 10.8 × 10− 5 S/cm. Moreover, the scaffold containing 2% of T3-loaded chitosan NPs was considered to be the most biocompatible samples. Result of ICC, RT-PCR and flow cytometry showed high expression of O4, Olig2, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFR-α), O1, myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) and myelin basic protein (MBP) high expressed but low expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Conclusion: Considering surface topography, biocompatibility, electrical conductivity and gene expression, the hybrid PCL/gelatin scaffold with the controlled release of T3 may be considered as a promising candidate to be used as an in vitro model to study patient-derived oligodendrocytes by isolating patient’s BMSCs in pathological conditions such as diseases or injuries. Moreover, the resulted oligodendrocytes can be used as a desirable source for transplanting in patients.Keywords: nanofibers scaffold, oligodendrocyte cells, controlled triiodothyronine release, central nervous system, polyaniline graphene

Keywords

• nanofibers scaffold
• oligodendrocyte cells
• controlled triiodothyronine release
• central nervous system
• polyaniline graphene