Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Polylactide/Polycaprolactone Nanofiber Scaffold Enhances Primary Cortical Neuron Growth. / Shtol, V.S.; Tsareva, A.D.; Arsentiev, K.A.; Konovalova, S.P.; Tlimahova, S.A.; Klinov, D.V.; Ivanov, D.A.; Musienko, P.E.
In: Polymers, Vol. 18, No. 2, 21.01.2026.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Polylactide/Polycaprolactone Nanofiber Scaffold Enhances Primary Cortical Neuron Growth
AU - Shtol, V.S.
AU - Tsareva, A.D.
AU - Arsentiev, K.A.
AU - Konovalova, S.P.
AU - Tlimahova, S.A.
AU - Klinov, D.V.
AU - Ivanov, D.A.
AU - Musienko, P.E.
N1 - Export Date: 09 February 2026; Cited By: 0; Correspondence Address: D.A. Ivanov; Scientific Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, 1, Olympic Ave., 354340, Russian Federation; email: ivanov.da@talantiuspeh.ru; P.E. Musienko; Scientific Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, 1, Olympic Ave., 354340, Russian Federation; email: musienko.pe@talantiuspeh.ru
PY - 2026/1/21
Y1 - 2026/1/21
N2 - Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a major clinical challenge due to the limited regenerative capacity of the central nervous system (CNS). Effective scaffolds for repair must combine mechanical compatibility with host tissue, controlled degradation matching the time course of regeneration, and microarchitectural features that promote neuronal survival. Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds mimic the structural and mechanical features of the extracellular matrix, providing critical cues for neuronal adhesion and glial modulation in neural regeneration. Here, we fabricated biodegradable poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PLA/PCL) scaffolds using a dichloromethane/tetrahydrofuran (DCM/THF) solvent system to induce surface porosity via solvent-driven phase separation. The DCM/THF solvent system formulation produced nanofibers with porous surfaces and increased area for cell interaction. PLA/PCL scaffolds showed a Young’s modulus of ~26 MPa and sustained degradation, particularly under oxidative conditions simulating the post-injury microenvironment. In vitro, these scaffolds enhanced neuronal density up to fivefold and maintained ~80% viability over 10 days in primary neuron–glia cultures. Morphometric analysis revealed that DCM/THF-based scaffolds supported astrocytes with preserved process complexity and reduced circularity, indicative of a less reactive morphology. In contrast, scaffolds fabricated with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) displayed reduced bioactivity and promoted morphological features associated with astrocyte reactivity, including cell rounding and process retraction. These findings demonstrate that solvent-driven control of scaffold microarchitecture is a powerful strategy to enhance neuronal integration and modulate glial morphology, positioning DCM/THF-processed PLA/PCL scaffolds as a promising platform for CNS tissue engineering. © 2026 by the authors.
AB - Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a major clinical challenge due to the limited regenerative capacity of the central nervous system (CNS). Effective scaffolds for repair must combine mechanical compatibility with host tissue, controlled degradation matching the time course of regeneration, and microarchitectural features that promote neuronal survival. Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds mimic the structural and mechanical features of the extracellular matrix, providing critical cues for neuronal adhesion and glial modulation in neural regeneration. Here, we fabricated biodegradable poly(lactic acid)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PLA/PCL) scaffolds using a dichloromethane/tetrahydrofuran (DCM/THF) solvent system to induce surface porosity via solvent-driven phase separation. The DCM/THF solvent system formulation produced nanofibers with porous surfaces and increased area for cell interaction. PLA/PCL scaffolds showed a Young’s modulus of ~26 MPa and sustained degradation, particularly under oxidative conditions simulating the post-injury microenvironment. In vitro, these scaffolds enhanced neuronal density up to fivefold and maintained ~80% viability over 10 days in primary neuron–glia cultures. Morphometric analysis revealed that DCM/THF-based scaffolds supported astrocytes with preserved process complexity and reduced circularity, indicative of a less reactive morphology. In contrast, scaffolds fabricated with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) displayed reduced bioactivity and promoted morphological features associated with astrocyte reactivity, including cell rounding and process retraction. These findings demonstrate that solvent-driven control of scaffold microarchitecture is a powerful strategy to enhance neuronal integration and modulate glial morphology, positioning DCM/THF-processed PLA/PCL scaffolds as a promising platform for CNS tissue engineering. © 2026 by the authors.
KW - biodegradable scaffolds
KW - cell therapy
KW - electrospinning
KW - neural tissue engineering
KW - poly(lactic acid)
KW - polycaprolactone
KW - polymer matrix
KW - porous nanofibers
KW - spinal cord injury
KW - Bioactivity
KW - Cells
KW - Electrophysiology
KW - Lactic acid
KW - Morphology
KW - Nanofibers
KW - Neurons
KW - Polycaprolactone
KW - Scaffolds (biology)
KW - Tissue
KW - Tissue regeneration
KW - Biodegradable scaffold
KW - Cell therapy
KW - Neural tissue engineering
KW - Poly lactic acid
KW - Poly(lactic acid)
KW - Poly(ε caprolactone)
KW - Polymer matrices
KW - Porous nanofibers
KW - Spinal cord injury
KW - Tetrahydrofuran solvents
KW - Polymer matrix
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/c8740aab-dd19-39dc-906e-d6926b180390/
U2 - 10.3390/polym18020294
DO - 10.3390/polym18020294
M3 - Article
C2 - 41599589
VL - 18
JO - Polymers
JF - Polymers
SN - 2073-4360
IS - 2
ER -
ID: 148491171