Conductive hydrogel/nanowire micropattern-based sensor for neural stem cell differentiation

초록

One of the main challenges regarding treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in the central nervous system (CNS) lies in the inability of neurons to undergo mitosis. Stem cell therapy could provide a possible solution to treat the neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we developed a conductive polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel/silver nanowire (AgNW) composite micropattern-based sensor to direct differentiation of neuronal stem cells (NSCs) and guidance of neurite outgrowth. The ridge micropatterns made from the composite PEG hydrogel/AgNW materials were fabricated on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. Through the combination of these composite materials and the ridge micropatterns, the outgrowth of neurites could be efficiently guided in a controlled manner. Therefore, this conductive PEG hydrogel/AgNW micropattern-based sensor could potentially allow future use of the flexible device as an implant for NSC therapy applications. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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