Promoting Neurite Growth and Schwann Cells Migration by Harnessing Decellularized Nerve Matrix onto Nanofibrous Guidance.

Synergistic intercellular interactions have been widely acknowledged in tuning functional cell behaviors in vivo, and these interactions have inspired the development of a variety of scaffolds for regenerative medicine. In this paper, the promotion of Schwann cell-neurite interactions through the use of a nerve extracellular matrix-coated nanofiber composite in vitro was demonstrated using a cell culturing platform consisting of either random or aligned electrospun poly(L-lactic acid) nanofibers and decellularized peripheral nerve matrix gel (pDNM gel) from porcine peripheral nervous tissue. The pDNM-coated nanofiber platform served as a superior substrate for dorsal root ganglion culturing. Furthermore, Schwann cell migration was facilitated by the pDNM gel coating on the nanofibers, accompanied with a much faster axonal extension, in comparison with effect of topographical guidance from the aligned electrospun fibers only. Finally, the decellularized nerve matrix promoted the ability of Schwann cells to wrap around bundled neurites, triggering axonal remyelination towards nerve fiber functionalization.