Figure 3.

Alignment of extending neurites and migrating cells cultured on the different nanofiber scaffolds. (A) Low magnification (5x) image of NF200 stained DRG explant growing along pure PLGA nanofibers. (B) High magnification bright field image of nanofibers, (C) neurites, (D) Hoechst stained nuclei, and (E) the merged image of all three. (F) Alignment of extending neurites from DRG explants. When compared to DRG explants grown on flat PLGA films, significantly more neurites extended within 15° and significantly fewer grew between 75–90° of the median angle of neurite alignment on all four fiber groups. No differences were seen between any of the fiber groups. (G) Angle of the long axis of cells migrating away from the DRG explants. When compared to DRG explants grown on films, significantly more long axes of cells were within 15° and significantly fewer grew between 75–90° of the median angle of cellular alignment on all four fiber groups. For bpV(HOpic), TrkB aptamer, and NGF pSiNP/PLGA hybrid nanofibers, significantly fewer cellular long axes were with 60–75° of the median angle of cellular alignment compared to explants on PLGA films. Scale Bar=500 μm (A), 50 μm (B-E); n=5; $= p < 0.05 compared to PLGA films.