Conducting polymer‐ECM scaffolds for human neuronal cell differentiation

摘要: 3D cell culture formats more closely resemble tissue architecture complexity than 2D systems, which are lacking most of the cell–cell and cell–microenvironment interactions of the in vivo milieu. Scaffold‐based systems integrating natural biomaterials are extensively employed in tissue engineering to improve cell survival and outgrowth, by providing the chemical and physical cues of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). Using the freeze–drying technique, porous 3D composite scaffolds consisting of poly(3,4‐ethylene‐dioxythiophene) doped with polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), containing ECM components (i.e., collagen, hyaluronic acid, and laminin) are engineered for hosting neuronal cells. The resulting scaffolds exhibit a highly porous microstructure and good conductivity, determined by scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. These supports boast …