Tailoring Mechanical Properties of Collagen-Based Scaffolds for Vascular Tissue Engineering: The Effects of pH, Temperature and Ionic Strength on Gelation
Tailoring Mechanical Properties of Collagen-Based Scaffolds for Vascular Tissue Engineering: The Effects of pH, Temperature and Ionic Strength on Gelation
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DOI：
10.3390/polym2040664
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发表时间：
2010-12-01
期刊：
影响因子：
5
通讯作者：
Mantovani, Diego
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Achilli, Matteo;Mantovani, Diego
胶原凝胶由于其生物学意义而在组织工程中的应用得到了广泛的研究。考虑到它们作为血管组织工程支架的用途，主要限制一直与它们的低机械性能有关。在导致胶原凝胶化的体外自组装过程中，原纤维的大小、它们的化学相互作用以及所得的微观结构受到三个主要实验条件的调节：pH、离子强度和温度。在这项工作中，这三个参数进行调制，以增加胶原蛋白凝胶的机械性能。通过浊度法和扫描电子显微镜分析评估了对凝胶化过程的影响。湍流测量结果表明，凝胶化的影响，所有三个因素和扫描电子图像证实，发生在微观结构水平的重大变化。力学测试表明，压缩和拉伸模量增加了四倍和三倍，分别与对照组相比。最后，活力测试证实，这些凝胶适合作为细胞粘附和增殖的支架。
Collagen gels have been widely studied for applications in tissue engineering because of their biological implications. Considering their use as scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering, the main limitation has always been related to their low mechanical properties. During the process of in vitro self-assembly, which leads to collagen gelation, the size of the fibrils, their chemical interactions, as well as the resulting microstructure are regulated by three main experimental conditions: pH, ionic strength and temperature. In this work, these three parameters were modulated in order to increase the mechanical properties of collagen gels. The effects on the gelation process were assessed by turbidimetric and scanning electron microscopy analyses. Turbidity measurements showed that gelation was affected by all three factors and scanning electron images confirmed that major changes occurred at the microstructural level. Mechanical tests showed that the compressive and tensile moduli increased by four-and three-fold, respectively, compared to the control. Finally, viability tests confirmed that these gels are suitable as scaffolds for cellular adhesion and proliferation.