Growth factor-free proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells on inorganic extracellular nanomatrices

A nanostructure comprising a plurality of nanohelices or nanozigzags, wherein the plurality of nanohelices or nanozigzags are made of SiO2 or TiOx, wherein x is in the range of 0.33≤x≤2,

• wherein the nanohelices made of SiO2 has a stiffness of 12.6±1.8 μN/nm;
• wherein the nanozigzags made of SiO2 has a stiffness of 19.7±2.3 μN/nm and an intermediate stiffness greatly favoring neuron commitment has an intermediate stiffness between 10-30 μN/nm;
• wherein the plurality of nanohelices or nanozigzags made of TiOx has a shape independent stiffness of no more than 26 μN/nm.