title: Improving the cell distribution in collagen-coated poly-caprolactone knittings.
abstract: Adequate cellular in-growth into biomaterials is one of the fundamental requirements of scaffolds used in regenerative medicine. Type I collagen is the most commonly used material for soft tissue engineering, because it is nonimmunogenic and a highly porous network for cellular support can be produced. However, in general, adequate cell in-growth and cell seeding has been suboptimal. In this study we prepared collagen scaffolds of different collagen densities and investigated the cellular distribution. We also prepared a hybrid polymer-collagen scaffold to achieve an optimal cellular distribution as well as sufficient mechanical strength. Collagen scaffolds [ranging from 0.3% to 0.8% (w/v)] with and without a mechanically stable polymer knitting [poly-caprolactone (PCL)] were prepared. The porous structure of collagen scaffolds was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin staining. The mechanical strength of hybrid scaffolds (collagen with or without PCL) was determined using tensile strength analysis. Cellular in-growth and interconnectivity were evaluated using fluorescent bead distribution and human bladder smooth muscle cells and human urothelium seeding. The lower density collagen scaffolds showed remarkably deeper cellular penetration and by combining it with PCL knitting the tensile strength was enhanced. This study indicated that a hybrid scaffold prepared from 0.4% collagen strengthened with knitting achieved the best cellular distribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology 267, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Weilun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Dorien M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Tiemessen
authors.forename: Marije
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sloff
authors.forename: Rianne J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lammers
authors.forename: Eric L W
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: de Mulder
authors.forename: Jöns
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hilborn
authors.forename: Bhuvanesh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Wout F J
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Feitz
authors.forename: Willeke F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Daamen
authors.forename: Toin H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: van Kuppevelt
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Geutjes
authors.forename: Egbert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oosterwijk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008863:Microspheres; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D003094:Collagen