Nerve tissue engineering (NTE) is one of the most promising methods to restore central nerve systems in human health care. Three-dimensional distribution and growth of cells within the porous scaffold are of clinical significance for NTE. In this study, an attempt was made to develop porous polymeric nano-fibrous scaffold using a biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) for in vitro culture of nerve stem cells (NSCs). The processing of PLLA scaffold has been carried out by liquid-liquid phase separation method. The physico-chemical properties of the scaffold were fully characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. These results confirmed that the prepared scaffold is highly porous and fibrous with diameters down to nanometer scale. As our nano-structured PLLA scaffold mimics natural extracellular matrix, we have intended this biodegradable scaffold as cell carrier in NTE. The in vitro performance of NSCs seeded on nano-fibrous scaffold is addressed in this study. The cell cultural tests showed that the NSCs could differentiate on the nano-structured scaffold and the scaffold acted as a positive cue to support neurite outgrowth. These results suggested that the nano-structured porous PLLA scaffold is a potential cell carrier in NTE. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.