Formation of collagen-glycosaminoglycan blended nanofibrous scaffolds and their biological properties.
The development of blended collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) scaffolds can potentially be used in many soft tissue engineering applications since the scaffolds mimic the structure and biological function of native extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we were able to obtain novel nanofibrous collagen-GAG scaffolds by electrospinning collagen blended with chondroitin sulfate (CS), a widely used GAG, in a mixed solvent of trifluoroethanol and water. The electrospun collagen-GAG scaffold with 4% CS (COLL-CS-04) exhibited a uniform fiber structure with nanoscale diameters. A second collagen-GAG scaffold with 10% CS consisted of smaller diameter fibers but exhibited a broader diameter distribution due to the different solution properties in comparison with COLL-CS-04. After cross-linking with glutaraldehyde vapor, the collagen-GAG scaffolds became more biostable and were resistant to collagenase degradation. This is evidently a more favorable environment allowing increased proliferation of rabbit conjunctiva fibroblast on the scaffolds. Incorporation of CS into collagen nanofibers without cross-linking did not increase the biostability but still promoted cell growth. The potential of applying the nanoscale collagen-GAG scaffold in tissue engineering is significant since the nanodimension fibers made of natural ECM mimic closely the native ECM found in the human body. The high surface area characteristic of this scaffold may maximize cell-ECM interaction and promote tissue regeneration faster than other conventional scaffolds.
Zhong
Shaoping
S
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Division of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent 119260, Singapore.
Teo
Wee Eong
WE
Zhu
Xiao
X
Beuerman
Roger
R
Ramakrishna
Seeram
S
Yung
Lin Yue Lanry
LY
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000737:chemistry; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014270:Trifluoroethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D014867:Water; D014270:Trifluoroethanol; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003094:Collagen; D017364:Collagenases