Collagen-ZnO Scaffolds for Wound Healing Applications: Role of Dendrimer Functionalization and Nanoparticle Morphology

Abstract

Functionalized nanoparticle cross-linked collagen scaffolds offer improved properties to biomaterials and regenerated tissues, as influence of nanoparticle shape on collagen scaffold has received little attention. The present study evaluates the role of ZnO nanoparticle shape (sphere, rod, hexagonal, needle, flower, star, circular disk, doughnut, and cube) on collagen self-assembly. The nanoparticle was prepared by using coprecipitation method and subsequently functionalized with triethoxysilane poly­(amidoamine) dendrimer generation 1 (TES-PAMAM-G1 or G1) on the nanoparticle surface. The self-assembly process of collagen, facilitated by EDC-NHS cross-linking, led to stable ZnO-TES-PAMAM-G1-collagen scaffolds. Physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of scaffolds were analyzed to determine the thermal, mechanical and pore size transformation and cell viability, etc. and obtained results compared against collagen scaffolds with/without EDC-NHS cross-linking. In vivo wound healing activity of ZnO-TES-PAMAM-G1-collagen scaffolds was tested on Albino rats that were subjected to excisional wounds and results were compared with control and collagen scaffold. Our findings suggested that the functionalized nanostructure mediated collagen scaffolds exhibited higher thermal (91.2 ± 0.3 °C) and mechanical stability (130.23−305.45 ± 0.1−2.0 MPa) than collagen scaffold (77.36 ± 0.5 °C and 7.96 ± 0.8 MPa). The result of in vivo wound healing study indicated that spherical shape of ZnO-TES-PAMAM -G1 NPs cross-linked collagen scaffold showed enhanced re-epithelization and faster collagen deposition than other scaffolds probably owing to their higher surface area, which led to higher grafting density on the surface. This work provides a new approach for designing nanoparticle mediated collagen scaffold for wound healing application.

Dendrimer Functionalized Metal Oxide Nanoparticle mediated Self-Assembled Collagen Scaffold for Skin Regenerative Application: Function of Metal in Metal oxides

“…Inspire of these reports, our group have studied an effect of various morphology of TES-PAMAM-G 1 dendrimer functionalized ZnO nanoparticle cross-linked collagen scaffold in skin regenerative application. The result obtained in that study indicated the sphere shape of ZnO nanoparticle exhibited a better-wound healing process than other shapes [27]. The use of PAMAM based dendrimer in that study is due to their well-de ned nanostructured macromolecules with relatively low toxicity and large number of surface functional groups leading to higher cross-linking density with collagen through EDC-NHS treatment [28][29].This cross-linking method is highly e cient, nontoxic (EDC-NHS used to activate the carboxylic groups of collagen and do not take part in cross-linking reaction) and the resultant by product can be easily removed by washing process [30].…”

“…Triethoxy silane poly (amido amine) dendrimer (TES-PAMAM-G 3 or G 3 ) was synthesized by using our previously reported procedure (Fig. S1, Supplementary le) [27].…”

Carbon Dots-Mediated Fluorescent Scaffolds: Recent Trends in Image-Guided Tissue Engineering Applications

“…In addition, the scaffold allows the transfer and removal of the nutrients of toxic metabolites/by-products from in and out of the tissues. The scaffold’s physicochemical properties, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility depend on the three-dimensional architecture and chemical composition [ 11 , 12 , 15 ]. Hence, the fabricated scaffold should possess the following properties for tissue engineering application (1) high porosity with interconnected pore structure, (2) larger surface area, (3) suitable mechanical strength, (4) better biocompatibility, and (5) controlled biodegradation for sufficient cell-scaffold interaction [ 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

“…Over the years, various tissue engineering constructs such as film, sponge, membrane, fiber, hydrogel, and 3D ink scaffold have been developed by many researchers to achieve success in tissue regeneration [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. The biocompatible scaffolds closely mimic the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of native tissue, aiding cellular events such as attachment, proliferation, and differentiation [ 15 , 16 ]. Mostly, scaffolds are fabricated using natural and synthetic polymers through phase separation, self-assembly, gas foaming, and particulate leaching, emulsification, and electrospinning method, etc.…”

Magnetically-oriented type I collagen-SiO2@Fe3O4 rods composite hydrogels tuning skin cell growth

“…Whereas a few studies have demonstrated the ability of (nano)rods to improve the mechanical stability of collagen hydrogels, none of them used magnetic particles to control the material orientation [38,39]. In addition to the aforementioned advantages of silica-based particles in terms of biocompatibility and drug delivery, their combination with collagen has already been demonstrated useful for bone and skin repair [40,41], which may benefit from controlled fiber orientation [37], and opening perpective in other tissue engineering applications such as nerve regeneration [36].…”