title: Degradation of the electrospun silica nanofiber in a biological medium for primary hippocampal neuron - effect of surface modification.
abstract: In this work, silica nanofibers (SNFs) were prepared by an electrospinning method and modified with poly-d-lysine (PDL) or (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTS) making biocompatible and degradable substrates for neuronal growth. The as-prepared SNF, modified SNF-PDL, and SNF-APTS were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, contact angle measurements, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Herein, the scanning electron microscopic images revealed that dissolution occurred in a corrosion-like manner by enlarging porous structures, which led to loss of structural integrity. In addition, covalently modified SNF-APTS with more hydrophobic surfaces and smaller surface areas resulted in significantly slower dissolution compared to SNF and physically modified SNF-PDL, revealing that different surface modifications can be used to tune the dissolution rate. Growth of primary hippocampal neuron on all substrates led to a slower dissolution rate. The three-dimensional SNF with larger surface area and higher surface density of the amino group promoted better cell attachment and resulted in an increased neurite density. This is the first known work addressing the degradability of SNF substrate in physiological conditions with neuron growth in vitro, suggesting a strong potential for the applications of the material in controlled drug release.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Z Vivian
authors.initials: ZV
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Center for Nanotechnology, Center for Biomedical Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wen Shuo
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Khomson
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keratithamkul
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoick
authors.affiliation: Department of Science, Concordia University Saint Paul, Saint Paul, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Brittany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kapala
authors.affiliation: Department of Science, Concordia University Saint Paul, Saint Paul, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Eryn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Center for Nanotechnology, Center for Biomedical Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: An-Chi
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ting Yu
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Center for Nanotechnology, Center for Biomedical Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yui Whei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chen-Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Science, Concordia University Saint Paul, Saint Paul, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Mong-Lin
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012821:Silanes; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C071717:trimethoxysilane
keywords: dissolution; electrospinning; neurite density; silica nanofibers; surface modification