Cover Story: Effective regulation of stem cell behavior is critical for the development of functional nerve guidance scaffolds. In this work, we designed and fabricated a biomimetic scaffold composed of uniaxially aligned polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers decorated with silica (SiO₂) nanoscale protrusions to investigate the synergistic effect of topographical cue and electrical stimulation (ES) on the behavior of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). As depicted on the cover, the aligned nanofibers provide directional guidance resembling the anisotropic architecture of native nerve tissue, while the nanoscale protrusions create a more bioactive interface to strengthen the cell–material interaction. Under ES, the combined cues markedly enhance BMSC elongation, oriented migration, and neural differentiation, as compared with either topographical guidance or ES alone. The hierarchical surface features not only improve the physicochemical properties of the scaffold but also amplify cellular responsiveness to electrical signals, leading to a more significant modulation of cell behaviors. By integrating structural guidance with bioelectrical stimulation, this study demonstrates a synergistic strategy for engineering advanced scaffolds capable of directing stem cell fate. The findings offer new insight into the design of multifunctional biomaterials for peripheral nerve regeneration and other electrically-responsive tissue engineering applications.

Yan, Y.; Sun, B.; Rayner, M. L.; Wang, Y.; Wu, T. Synergistic Effects of Topographical Guidance and Electrical Stimulation on Modulation of BMSC Behaviors Using Electrospun Nanofibers Decorated with Nanoscale Protrusions. Materials and Interfaces 2026, 3 (2), 170–183. https://doi.org/10.53941/mi.2026.100011

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