Preparation of a gold nanoparticle containing electrospun poly (ɛ-caprolactone) Scaffold for stem cell differentiation

Nerve tissue engineering aims to improve the nerve repair and regeneration rate. Electrical stimulation has an influence on the adipose stem cell differentiation into neuronal cells. The developed hypothesis argues that gold nanoparticle (AuNP) incorporated Poly (ɛ- caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds can be applied in nerve tissue engineering. Although PCL is a non-conductive and highly hydrophobic polymer, it is commonly used for nerve tissue engineering. The hydrophilicity, which is necessary for cell attachment and proliferation is provided by AuNPs. Also, AuNPs give electrical conductivity to non-conductive PCL polymer. In this study, an AuNP containing extracellular matrix for differentiation of human adipose stem cells was developed by preparing a scaffold using electrospinning technique. In order to provide conductivity, the aqueous alkaline sodium borohydride reduced AuNPs were blended into the PCL. The AuNP containing PCL scaffold was composed of fibers in the size range of 3 to 6 μm. The aim was to easily differentiate human adipose stem cells (HASCs) into neuronal cells using electrical stimulation throughout AuNPs. This study is promising a new regeneration method for the neuronal cell differentiation.