title: In Vitro Testing of Biomaterials for Neural Repair: Focus on Cellular Systems and High-Content Analysis.
abstract: Biomimetic materials are designed to stimulate specific cellular responses at the molecular level. To improve the soundness of in vitro testing of the biological impact of new materials, appropriate cell systems and technologies must be standardized also taking regulatory issues into consideration. In this study, the biological and molecular effects of different scaffolds on three neural systems, that is, the neural cell line SH-SY5Y, primary cortical neurons, and neural stem cells, were compared. The effect of poly(L-lactic acid) scaffolds having different surface geometry (conventional two-dimensional seeding flat surface, random or aligned fibers as semi3D structure) and chemical functionalization (laminin or ECM extract) were studied. The endpoints were defined for efficacy (i.e., neural differentiation and neurite elongation) and for safety (i.e., cell death/survival) using high-content analysis. It is demonstrated that (i) the definition of the biological properties of biomaterials is profoundly influenced by the test system used; (ii) the definition of the in vitro safety profile of biomaterials for neural repair is also influenced by the test system; (iii) cell-based high-content screening may well be successfully used to characterize both the efficacy and safety of novel biomaterials, thus speeding up and improving the soundness of this critical step in material science having medical applications.
authors: Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Vito Antonio
authors: VA
authors: Baldassarro
authors: Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Luisa Stella
authors: LS
authors: Dolci
authors: Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy .
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Mangano
authors: Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.; Department of Veterinary Medical Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Giardino
authors: Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician" and National Consortium of Materials, Science, and Technology (INSTM, Bologna RU), University of Bologna , Bologna, Italy .
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Gualandi
authors: Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.; Department of Chemistry "G. Ciamician" and National Consortium of Materials, Science, and Technology (INSTM, Bologna RU), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Maria Letizia
authors: ML
authors: Focarete
authors: Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Calzà
keywords: Good Laboratory Practice guidelines; neural cell lines; neural primary culture; neural stem cells high-content analysis; poly(lactic acid)