Development of neural tissue engineering scaffolds for guided neurite extension within the central nervous system

This thesis reports on the development of two unique neural tissue engineering scaffolds for cellular support and guided neurite extension within the central nervous system (CNS). For this reason this work is presented in 3 Parts to allow for a thorough understanding to be obtained, in regard to the development and characterisation of each unique neural tissue engineering scaffold; Part I focuses on the development of nanoscale polymer fibres produced using electrospinning; Part II is concerned with the examination of smart xyloglucan hydrogels, which are injected into the body as a liquid and then assemble forming a hydrogel scaffold when the temperature is raised to 37 ºC. Part III contains the final chapter and links the preceding Parts so that ultimately the benefits of each can be incorporated into a 'composite' scaffold. Such a scaffold may generate individual cellular niche environments that are more permissible for cell differentiation and maintenance or for directed axonal regeneration through mimicking some of the neurochemical and neuroanatomical architecture of physiological tissue.