Differentiation of Human Scalp Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Mature Neural Cells on Electrospun Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Nerve Tissue Engineering Applications
Objective: This study aimed to isolate and culture SADS cells, investigate their neurogenic capacity and evaluate their
application for nerve tissue engineering.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, SADS cells were isolated from human adipose tissue. After 7-day
treatment of SADS cells with insulin, indomethacin and isobutylmethylxanthine, neurogenic differentiation of SADS cells was
investigated. During this study, Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and PCL/gelatin nanofibrous scaffolds were fabricated using
electrospinning and subsequently nanofibrous scaffolds were coated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). SADS cells were also
seeded on nanofibrous scaffolds and neurogentic differentiation of these cells on nanofibers was also evaluated. Effect of PRP
on proliferation and differentiation of SADS cells on scaffolds was also studied.
Results: Our results showed that after 7-day treatment of SADS cells with insulin, indomethacin and
isobutylmethylxanthine, SADS cells expressed markers characteristic of neural cells such as nestin and neuron specific
nuclear protein (NEUN) (as early neuronal markers) as well as microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and neuronal
microtubule-associated (TAU) (as mature neuronal markers) while mature astrocyte maker (GFAP) was not expressed.
MTT assay and SEM results showed that incorporation of gelatin and PRP into the structure of nanofibrous scaffolds
has a significant positive influence on the bioactivity of scaffolds. Our results also showed neurogentic differentiation
of SADS cells on scaffolds.
Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that SADS cells have potential to differentiate into early and mature progenitor
neurons, in vitro. PCL/gelatin/PRP was found to be a promising substrate for proliferation of SADS cells and differentiation
of these cells into neural cells which make these scaffolds a candidate for further in vivo experiments and suggest their
application for nerve tissue engineering