Unique Collagen Fibers for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The challenge to develop grafts for tissue regeneration lies in the need to obtain a scaffold that will promote cell growth in order to form new tissue at a trauma-damaged site. Scaffolds also need to provide compatible mechanical properties that will support the new tissue and facilitate the desired physiological activity. Here, we used natural materials to develop a bio-composite made of unique collagen embedded in an alginate hydrogel material. The collagen fibers used to create the building blocks exhibited a unique hyper-elastic behavior similar to that of natural human tissue. The prominent mechanical properties, along with the support of cell adhesion affects cell shape and supports their proliferation, consequently facilitating the formation of a new tissue-like structure. The current study elaborates on these unique collagen fibers, focusing on their structure and biocompatibility, in an in vitro model. The findings suggest it as a highly appropriate material for biomedical applications. The promising in vitro results indicate that the distinctive collagen fibers could serve as a scaffold that can be adapted for tissue regeneration, in support of healing processes, along with maintaining tissue mechanical properties for the new regenerate tissue formation.

Mesenchymal Cell Growth and Differentiation on a New Biocomposite Material: A Promising Model for Regeneration Therapy

“…Collagen fibers were isolated by mechanical extraction from Sarchophyton soft coral [12][13][14]. The fibers were extracted from the soft coral colonies that were torn to expose the fibers.…”

“…The fibers were extracted from the soft coral colonies that were torn to expose the fibers. The fibers were then physically pulled out from the soft coral [12] and the isolated fibers were manually spun around a thin polylactic acid (PLA) frame, to create a dense net of multidirectional fiber bundles. The extracted fibers were washed thoroughly in a series of solutions [distilled water, 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate, 0.5 M ethylene di-amine-tetra acetic acid (EDTA), and phosphate buffered saline (PBS)], and then immersed in ethanol 70%.…”

“…The cells' functionality performance indicates and suggests that the scaffold is suitable to be developed as a new medical device that has the potential to support regeneration and the production of functional tissue.Biomolecules 2020, 10, 458 2 of 11 new tissue to improves regeneration and healing processes [1,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. The use of naturally made scaffolds is the best approach, but they may lack the physical/mechanical properties needed for the new tissue formed.We have developed a composite biomaterial scaffold made from collagen fibers embedded in alginate hydrogel [12][13][14][15][16][17]. The collagen used as a biopolymer for producing implantable medical devices is usually obtained through chemical extraction and reconstitution processes, resulting in products with poor mechanical strength [18][19][20].…”

“…The collagen used as a biopolymer for producing implantable medical devices is usually obtained through chemical extraction and reconstitution processes, resulting in products with poor mechanical strength [18][19][20]. However, the biocomposite we describe here focuses on the unique coral-derived collagen fibers that were recently identified for their molecular composition and structure [13,14] and mechanical properties [12,[15][16][17]. These attributes make our biocomposite uniquely suitable for use in a new generation of scaffolds that can be tailored to meet the mechanical properties of various target tissues.…”

“…We have developed a composite biomaterial scaffold made from collagen fibers embedded in alginate hydrogel [12][13][14][15][16][17]. The collagen used as a biopolymer for producing implantable medical devices is usually obtained through chemical extraction and reconstitution processes, resulting in products with poor mechanical strength [18][19][20].…”