Collagen-chitosan composite scaffold in vitro three-dimensional culture of neural stem cells
Guan S., Liu TQ., Ge D., Lu RX., Ma XH., Cui ZF.
The collagen-chitosan composite scaffolds were fabricated by lyophilization technique, which were structurally modified by laminin (LN) protein, and their physical performance characteristics were determinated. Neural stem cells (NSCs) obtained from the fetal mouse hippocampus were cultured in the collagen-chitosan composite scaffolds and the biocompatibility was studied. The comparative results of different scaffolds with the parameters of aperture, porosity, water absorption and degradation rate show that the volume ratio of 7:3 is more suitable for cell culture in vitro and the inoculation rate of NSCs is markedly improved in LN-treated scaffolds. Through the observation of laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), NSCs within collagen-chitosan composite scaffolds present good growth, proliferation and differentiation. These results provide a scientific experimental basis not only for further NSCs clinical transplantation applications, but also for the drug screening and mechanism research on the treatment of diseases of the nervous system.