title: Hyaluronan hydration generates three-dimensional meso-scale structure in engineered collagen tissues.
abstract: Here, we show that the local incorporation of osmotically active hyaluronan into previously compressed collagen constructs results in further rapid dehydration/compression of collagen layers, channel formation and generation of new interfaces; these novel structures, at the nano-micro (i.e. meso-scale) were formed within native collagen gels, in a highly predictable spatial manner and offer important new methods of fabricating scaffolds (e.g. tubes and open-spirals) with potential for use in tissue regeneration such as in peripheral nerves and small vessels. This paper tests the possibility that the local fluid content of a dense collagen network can be controlled by incorporation of an osmotically active (native) macromolecule--hyluronan. This is an exemplar physiological, osmotic swelling agent. Hyaluronan is commonly secreted by cells deep in connective tissues, so is a good candidate for this role in a cell-driven system balancing mechanical compaction of bulk tissue collagen. These constructs may have potential as functional in vitro models representing developmental and pathological processes.
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, UCL Tissue Repair and Engineering Centre, University College London, Stanmore Campus, London HA7 4LP, UK.
authors.forename: Nelomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anandagoda
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ezra
authors.forename: Umber
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cheema
authors.forename: Maryse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bailly
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D051381:Rats; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005782:Gels; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D003094:Collagen