Gelatin/nanoceria nanocomposite fibers as antioxidant scaffolds for neuronal regeneration

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects Vol. 1861; no. 2; pp. 386 - 395
• Main Authors: Marino, Attilio, Tonda-Turo, Chiara, De Pasquale, Daniele, Ruini, Francesca, Genchi, Giada, Nitti, Simone, Cappello, Valentina, Gemmi, Mauro, Mattoli, Virgilio, Ciardelli, Gianluca, Ciofani, Gianni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.02.2017
• Subjects: antioxidant activity; Antioxidant interfaces; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - chemistry; Axonal guidance; Biocompatible Materials - administration & dosage; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; cell senescence; Cells, Cultured; ceric oxide; Cerium - administration & dosage; Cerium - chemistry; Cerium oxide nanoparticles; Electrospinning; Gelatin; Gelatin - administration & dosage; Gelatin - chemistry; Humans; medicine; nanocomposites; Nanocomposites - administration & dosage; Nanocomposites - chemistry; Nanofibers - administration & dosage; Nanofibers - chemistry; nanoparticles; Nanoparticles - administration & dosage; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nerve Regeneration - drug effects; nerve tissue; Nerve Tissue - drug effects; Nerve Tissue - metabolism; neurites; Neurites - drug effects; Neurites - metabolism; Neuronal tissue engineering; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - metabolism; reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Regenerative Medicine - methods; tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds; Electrospinning; Antioxidant interfaces; Cerium oxide nanoparticles; Gelatin; Neuronal tissue engineering; Axonal guidance
• ISSN: 0304-4165; 1872-8006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.11.022

The design of efficient nerve conduits able to sustain the axonal outgrowth and its guidance towards appropriate targets is of paramount importance in nerve tissue engineering. In this work, we propose the preparation of highly aligned nanocomposite fibers of gelatin/cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria), prepared by electrospinning. Nanoceria are powerful self-regenerative antioxidant nanomaterials, that behave as strong reactive oxygen species scavengers, and among various beneficial effects, they have been proven to inhibit the cell senescence and to promote the neurite sprouting. After a detailed characterization of the developed substrates, they have been tested on neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells, demonstrating strong antioxidant properties and beneficial multi-cue effects in terms of neurite development and alignment. Obtained findings suggest efficiency of the proposed substrates in providing combined topographical stimuli and antioxidant effects to cultured cells. Proposed nanocomposite scaffolds represent a promising approach for nerve tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. [Display omitted] •Nanocomposite gelatin/nanoceria fibers have been prepared and characterized.•Electrospun scaffolds have been tested on human neuron-like cells.•Scaffold topography and antioxidant properties of nanoceria positively affects cells.•Exploitation in neuronal tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is proposed.