Comparing Neurite Outgrowth Using Random and Aligned Electrospun Scaffolds

Introduction: Each year in the United States alone, approximately 11,000 individuals suffer from spinal cord injuries [1]. In order to help these individuals, various materials for neural scaffolds are being explored. These materials must mimic the extra-cellular matrix of the spinal cord to help promote cell differentiation and growth for proper recovery. The extracellular matrix is composed of aligned fibers that provide contact guidance for neurite outgrowth. Thus it is expected that neural cells will grow more effectively on aligned scaffolds as opposed to random ones [2]. The purpose of this experiment is to produce random and aligned electrospun scaffolds of three different materials and examine their potential for supporting neural cell growth.