Within the framework of neurodegenerative disorder therapies, the fabrication of 3D eumelanin architectures represents a novel strategy to realize tissue-engineering scaffolds for neuronal cell growth and control by providing both mechanical support and biological signals. Here, an appropriate procedure combining electrospinning, spin coating and solid-state polymerization process is established to realize the scaffolds. For biological analysis, a human derived cell line SH-SY5Y from neuroblastoma is used. Cell maturation on eumelanin microfibers, random and aligned, is evaluated by using confocal analysis and specific markers of differentiating neurons (βIII tubulin and GAP-43 expression). Cell morphology is tested by SEM analysis and immunofluorescence techniques. As results, eumelanin coated microfibers prove capable to support biological response in terms of cell survival, adhesion and spreading and to promote cell differentiation toward a more mature neuronal phenotype as confirmed by GAP-43 expression over the culture.
Keywords: electrospinning; eumelanin; neurodegenerative applications; neuronal cell growth; tissue engineered scaffold.