Enhanced neurite outgrowth of rat neural cortical cells on surface-modified films of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid).

Neural cortical cells, isolated from prenatal rat cerebra, were grown on surface-modified poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid, 65:35) (PLGA) films coated with poly-D: -lysine (PDL) with either laminin (LN), fibronectin (FN) or collagen (CN). Immunocytochemistry showed that the isolated cells were highly immunopositive for both neurofilament and MAP-2 with well-organized neurites and somatodendritic localization. The presence of PDL with LN or FN on the PLGA films was essential for increased neural cell growth. Also, PLGA films coated with either PDL/LN or PDL/FN mixtures had higher neurite outgrowth and regular differentiation.