PHBV microspheres as neural tissue engineering scaffold support neuronal cell growth and axon–dendrite polarization

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) microspheres, with properties such as slower degradation and more efficient drug delivery properties, have important benefits for neural tissue engineering. Our previous studies have shown PHBV microspheres to improve cell growth and differentiation. This study aimed to investigate if PHBV microspheres would support neurons to extend these benefits to neural tissue engineering. PHBV microspheres’ suitability as neural tissue engineering scaffolds was investigated using PC12 cells, cortical neurons (CNs), and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to cover a variety of neuronal types for different applications. Microspheres were fabricated using an emulsion-solvent-evaporation technique. DNA quantification, cell viability assays, and immunofluorescent staining were carried out. PC12 cultures on PHBV microspheres showed growth trends comparable to two-dimensional controls. This was further verified by staining for cell spreading. Also, CNs expressed components of the signaling pathway on PHBV microspheres, and had greater axon–dendrite segregation (4.1 times for axon stains and 2.3 times for dendrite stains) than on coverslips. NPCs were also found to differentiate into neurons on the microspheres. Overall, the results indicate that PHBV microspheres, as scaffolds for neural tissue engineering, supported a variety of neuronal cell types and promoted greater axon–dendrite segregation.