Promoting and Orienting Axon Extension Using Scaffold-Free Dental Pulp Stem Cell Sheets
Michelle Drewry, Matthew T. Dailey, Kristi Rothermund, Charles A. Backman, Kris Noel Dahl, Fatima N. Syed-Picard
Abstract
. Neuronally differentiated neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells produced neurites that were significantly more oriented and less branched when cultured on aligned cell sheets relative to unaligned sheets. These data demonstrate that the linearly aligned DPC sheets can biomechanically support axon regeneration and improve axonal guidance which, when applied to a facial nerve injury, will result in more accurate reinnervation. The aligned DPC sheets generated here could be used in combination with commercially available nerve conduits to enhance their bioactivity or be formed into stand-alone scaffold-free nerve conduits capable of facilitating improved facial nerve recovery.