Neural Tissue Engineering: Human Neural Tissues from Neural Stem Cells Using Conductive Biogel and Printed Polymer Microelectrode Arrays for 3D Electrical Stimulation (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 15/2019)

Neural tissue engineering is a research field aimed at rebuilding neurological defects resulting from severe trauma, vascular impairment, syringomyelia, spinal stenosis, malignant and benign tumors, or transverse myelitis. Of particular interest, neural stem cells (NSCs) and the effective differentiation and proliferation thereof are attractive research areas that have yielded widespread utility for implants or neural scaffold materials. Graphene and its derivatives have more effective and efficient physical, chemical, and biological abilities than other nanomaterials, and may act as new coating materials to promote neuronal proliferation and differentiation. Therefore, here, we review the recent progress of studies that examine the effect of graphene-based materials on NSCs. We specifically review how graphene and its derivatives influence NSC adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation. We also discuss the risks of graphene-based materials, including their anti-inflammatory effects, in the realm of neural tissue engineering as well as current challenges facing the field today.

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Characterization of neural stem cells on electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) submicron scaffolds: evaluating their potential in neural tissue engineering

Journal of Biomaterials Science Polymer Edition ◽

10.1163/156856208784089652 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 623-634 ◽

Cited By ~ 84

Author(s):

D. R. Nisbet ◽

L. M. Y. Yu ◽

T. Zahir ◽

J. S. Forsythe ◽

M. S. Shoichet

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Neural Stem Cells ◽

Neural Tissue ◽

Neural Tissue Engineering

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3D culture of neural stem cells within conductive PEDOT layer-assembled chitosan/gelatin scaffolds for neural tissue engineering

Materials Science and Engineering C ◽

10.1016/j.msec.2018.08.054 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 93 ◽

pp. 890-901 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Shuping Wang ◽

Shui Guan ◽

Wenfang Li ◽

Dan Ge ◽

Jianqiang Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Neural Stem Cells ◽

3D Culture ◽

Neural Tissue ◽

Neural Tissue Engineering ◽

Pedot Layer

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Electrical Stimulation Promotes Stem Cell Neural Differentiation in Tissue Engineering

Stem Cells International ◽

10.1155/2021/6697574 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Hong Cheng ◽

Yan Huang ◽

Hangqi Yue ◽

Yubo Fan

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Stem Cells ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Neural Differentiation ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Neural Tissue ◽

Neural Regeneration ◽

Neural Tissue Engineering ◽

Conductive Materials

Nerve injuries and neurodegenerative disorders remain serious challenges, owing to the poor treatment outcomes of in situ neural stem cell regeneration. The most promising treatment for such injuries and disorders is stem cell-based therapies, but there remain obstacles in controlling the differentiation of stem cells into fully functional neuronal cells. Various biochemical and physical approaches have been explored to improve stem cell-based neural tissue engineering, among which electrical stimulation has been validated as a promising one both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we summarize the most basic waveforms of electrical stimulation and the conductive materials used for the fabrication of electroactive substrates or scaffolds in neural tissue engineering. Various intensities and patterns of electrical current result in different biological effects, such as enhancing the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of stem cells into neural cells. Moreover, conductive materials can be used in delivering electrical stimulation to manipulate the migration and differentiation of stem cells and the outgrowth of neurites on two- and three-dimensional scaffolds. Finally, we also discuss the possible mechanisms in enhancing stem cell neural differentiation using electrical stimulation. We believe that stem cell-based therapies using biocompatible conductive scaffolds under electrical stimulation and biochemical induction are promising for neural regeneration.

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