Abstract: Objective To evaluate the impact of the topographic features of electrospun polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)
nanofibers on growth pattern of primary rat astrocytes. Methods Rat astrocytes were cultured on fabricated random and
aligned electrospun nanofibers. Using PMMA film as the control, the cells were transfected with a lentivirus harboring GFP
gene to reveal the cell growth pattern on different substrates. Results Both random and aligned electrospun PMMA nanofibers
could support the growth of rat astrocytes, but the topographic features of the fibers significantly affected their growth
pattern. On aligned nanofibers, astrocytes extended long cell processes along the direction of the substrate fibers, and on
random fibers the astrocytes formed shorter processes. On merged images of GFP expressions and substrate fibers, the cell
processes of the astrocytes were shown to adhere to and elongate along the fibers both on random and aligned nanofibers.
Conclusion The topographic features of PMMA nanofibers can significantly influence the growth pattern of primary rat
astrocytes. Aligned electrospun nanofibers has the potential to serve as scaffold material for reducing glia scar formation after
spinal cord injury.