3D Piezoelectric Cellulose Composites as Advanced Multifunctional Implants for Neural Stem Cell Transplantation

After a traumatic injury to the central nervous system (CNS), the body's ability to regenerate damaged neurons is hindered by an imbalance of growth factors, guidance cues, and inhibitory signals. This impedes neural recovery and leads to poor clinical outcomes. While interventions such as electrical stimulation, topological guidance, and growth-factor delivery show potential, a more comprehensive approach is needed to address CNS injuries effectively. Here, we present a novel method involving porous, enzymatically degradable cellulose-based composites with piezoelectric properties, created through directional freeze casting. These composites serve as scaffolds for targeted delivery of neural stem cells (NSCs) to damaged neural tissue. We successfully fabricate three-dimensional aligned porous scaffolds by embedding potassium sodium niobate (KNN) piezoceramic particles in a cellulose matrix. These scaffolds promote NSC differentiation and demonstrate a strong link between scaffold structure and the organization of astrocytes, neurons, and their nuclei, emphasizing their promise in supporting neural regeneration.