title: Enhanced growth of neural networks on conductive cellulose-derived nanofibrous scaffolds.
abstract: The problem of recovery from neurodegeneration needs new effective solutions. Tissue engineering is viewed as a prospective approach for solving this problem since it can help to develop healthy neural tissue using supportive scaffolds. This study presents effective and sustainable tissue engineering methods for creating biomaterials from cellulose that can be used either as scaffolds for the growth of neural tissue in vitro or as drug screening models. To reach this goal, nanofibrous electrospun cellulose mats were made conductive via two different procedures: carbonization and addition of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The resulting scaffolds were much more conductive than untreated cellulose material and were used to support growth and differentiation of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. The cells were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy methods over a period of 15 days at different time points. The results showed that the cellulose-derived conductive scaffolds can provide support for good cell attachment, growth and differentiation. The formation of a neural network occurred within 10 days of differentiation, which is a promising length of time for SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 4, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 9, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Volodymyr
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kuzmenko
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 4, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kalogeropoulos
authors.affiliation: Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 4, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 4, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thunberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 4, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johannesson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 4, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hägg
authors.affiliation: Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 4, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 9, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enoksson
authors.affiliation: Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 4, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 4, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: paul.gatenholm@chalmers.se.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gatenholm
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D006801:Humans; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D009415:Nerve Net; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Cell attachment; Conductive scaffolds; Electrospun cellulose; Neural network