title: Neural Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Scaffolds for Nerve Tissue Engineering Applications.
abstract: Scaffolds produced by electrospinning act as supports for cell proliferation and differentiation, improved through the release of neurotrophic factors. The objective of this study was to develop aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds with and without nerve growth factor to evaluate the potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for neural differentiation. Nanofiber morphology, diameter, degradability, cell morphology, adhesion, proliferation, viability, cytotoxicity, and neural differentiation were performed to characterize the scaffolds. The expression for nestin, β-III tubulin, and neuron-specific enolase was also evaluated. The scaffolds demonstrated a satisfactory environment for MSC growth, being nontoxic. The MSCs cultivated on the scaffolds were able to adhere and proliferate. The evaluation of neural differentiation indicated that in all groups of scaffolds the MSCs were able to upregulate neural gene expression.
authors.affiliation: 1 Hematology and Stem Cell Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .|2 Post-graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Kerlin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Quintiliano
authors.affiliation: 1 Hematology and Stem Cell Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .|2 Post-graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Thayane
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Crestani
authors.affiliation: 1 Hematology and Stem Cell Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Davi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Virginia Etges
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Helfer
authors.affiliation: 1 Hematology and Stem Cell Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .|3 Post-graduate Program in Material Science, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Annelise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: 1 Hematology and Stem Cell Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balbueno
authors.affiliation: 1 Hematology and Stem Cell Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .|4 Post Graduate Program in Biological Science: Physiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .|5 Centro Universitário Ritter dos Reis-UniRitter .
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steffens
authors.affiliation: 2 Post-graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .|6 Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Geraldo Pereira
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Jotz
authors.affiliation: 1 Hematology and Stem Cell Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .
authors.forename: Diogo André
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Pilger
authors.affiliation: 1 Hematology and Stem Cell Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .|3 Post-graduate Program in Material Science, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .|4 Post Graduate Program in Biological Science: Physiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul , Porto Alegre, Brazil .|7 Stem Cell Research Institute. Porto Alegre , Brazil .
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pranke
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D010012:Osteogenesis; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
keywords: mesenchymal stem cells; nerve growth factor; scaffolds