Plant Cellulose as a Substrate for 3D Neural Stem Cell Culture

Couvrette L, Walker K, et al.

Bioengineering

University of Ottawa

RESEARCH SUMMARY

This study demonstrates that decellularized plant-derived cellulose scaffolds can support three-dimensional culture, proliferation, and lineage-specific differentiation of adult rat neural stem cells. Mechanical characterization showed that scaffold stiffness closely matches native brain tissue, and the scaffold’s aligned microchannel architecture promoted neurosphere formation, cell migration, and enhanced neuronal and astrocytic differentiation compared to 2D culture. The results highlight plant-based cellulose scaffolds as low-cost, scalable biomaterials for neural tissue engineering and stem cell mechanobiology research.

A CellScale UniVert mechanical testing system was used to quantify the compressive elastic modulus of decellularized asparagus-derived cellulose scaffolds. After incubation in culture media at 37 °C, scaffolds were subjected to unconfined compression up to 30 % strain at a controlled displacement rate to generate stress–strain curves. These CellScale measurements confirmed that scaffold stiffness falls within the physiological range of neural tissue and provided a mechanical basis for interpreting neural stem cell differentiation outcomes.

AUTHORS

L.J. Couvrette; K.L.A. Walker; T.V. Bui; Andrew E. Pelling.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

JOURNAL

Bioengineering

YEAR

2023

INSTITUTIONS

University of Ottawa

COUNTRIES

Canada

INSTRUMENT USED

UniVert

TESTING METHODS

Compression TestingHydrated and Temperature Controlled Testing

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

Cell Laden HydrogelsECM & Decellularized Matrix MechanicsNeural Tissue & CNS MechanicsOrganoid and Tissue Mimetic SystemsScaffold Mechanical TestingStem Cell Mechanobiology

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