comparison the effect of PLGA and PLGA-PEG substrates on the neurogenic potential of human neural SH-SY5Y cells

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the neurogenic effect of PLGA + PEG nanofibers on human SH-SY5Y cells after 7 days in vitro. Methods: In this research, cells were allocated into three different groups as follows; (I) Control, (II) PLGA and PLGA-PEG groups. Nanofibers were synthesized from both groups using Electrospinning methods. Physicochemical features were examined using HNMR, FT-IR, and contact angle assays. Ultrastructural morphology and orientation of nanofibers as well as cell distribution and attachment were visualized by SEM imaging. Cell survival and proliferation rate were measured using MTT and flow cytometry analyses targeting Ki67 marker. Differentiation capacity of cells were monitored in the presence and absence of retinoic acid by Map-2-based immunofluorescence staining. Results: HNMR, FT-IR assays confirmed successful integration of PEG to the PLGA backbone. Contact angel showed the increase of hydrophilicity in PLGA-PEG scaffold compared to the PLGA substrate. SEM analysis revealed the reduction of PLGA+PEG nanofibers compared to PLGA group. Cell attachment was observed in both groups while PLGA-PEG had a superior effect in the promotion of survival rate compared to other groups (p<0.05). Compared to PLGA, PLGA-PEG increased the percent of Ki67+ cells (p<0.01). PLGA-PEG substrate, in the presence or absence of retinoic acid, could induce neural maturation in SH-SY5Y cells by increasing Map-2 factor compared to the PLGA scaffold alone after 7 days.