Magnetically controlled drug-loaded coaxial electrospun suspension fibers for promoting Schwann cell myelination

Abstract

Myelination of Schwann cells is essential for peripheral nerve regeneration, yet existing in vitro models struggle to accurately recapitulate the in vivo myelination process. In this study, a novel three-dimensional (3D) suspended fiber scaffold composed of a polycaprolactone (PCL) shell and an ovalbumin (OVA) core was fabricated via coaxial electrospinning to promote Schwann cell myelination. The core layer encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles loaded with curcumin and cholesterol, enabling remote, non-invasive, and magnetically controlled drug release to mimic the dynamic microenvironment during nerve repair. Among the fiber diameters tested, 10–11 μm proved most favorable for Schwann cell wrapping and myelin formation. Schwann cells adhered, migrated along, and successfully ensheathed the suspended fibers, forming myelin structures in vitro. Further transcriptomic analysis and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis revealed synergistic upregulation of key myelination-related genes (e.g., myelin basic protein (MBP), myelin protein zero (MPZ), etc.) under the magnetically controlled drug release condition. These findings demonstrate that the designed 3D magneto-responsive coaxial suspended fibers not only provide a supportive physical scaffold but also offer a controllable biochemical environment for Schwann cell function. This work presents an innovative integration of magnetically controlled drug delivery and biomimetic scaffold design, offering a promising strategy for peripheral nerve injury repair and future nerve graft development.