Do not be deceived. The abstract below proves they can contain cells and these cells respond to growth factors.They are not all as tiny as shown in this youtube. Hope this is not too technical but try to explain.This abstract is showing cells surviving and able to grow in nano tubes spun from a substance used to make safe biological implants (poly L lactic acid) such as knees or skin fillers.The cells used I believe come from an immortal rat line (some cancer cells lines are used in research as they keep on dividing). The addition of what is called nerve growth factor caused these cells to CONTINUE to grow inside these spun tubes.These tubes of course are tiny.Hope you can understand the significance of this. Chien-Chung Chen, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuhsing St, Taipei 110-52, Taiwan, ROC Email: [email protected] Abstract We present a bio-electrospinning technique for preparing cell-containing, oriented tubular scaffold intended for use as a nerve guide conduit (NGC). With a coaxial spinneret, solutions of PC-12 cells and poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) were delivered to the core and shell parts of the spinneret, respectively. When electrostatic field was applied, core/shell fiber was electrospun and collected. The electrospun fibers’ morphology was characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. Two structural characteristics were found: (1) the larger, hollow fibers had diameters in tens of micrometers and wall thicknesses around few micrometers, and (2) improved orientation in a preferred direction with the aid of a rotating collection device. Finally, fluorescent PC12 cells were found not only to exist and survive inside these hollow fibers, but also, upon addition of nerve growth factor, to undergo differentiation with neurite extended along the hollow fibers in the desired direction. All of these results demonstrate its potential application for NGC. bio-electrospinning hollow fiber nerve guide conduit neurite PC12 scaffold
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 09:07:35 +0000