title: In vitro evaluation of elastin-like polypeptide-collagen composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Collagen and elastin are two key structural proteins found in the extra-cellular matrices (ECMs) of most tissues, yet very little is known about the response of bone cells to elastin or its derivatives. Recently, we have designed and characterized a novel class of ECM-based composite scaffolds with collagen and a genetically engineered polymer, elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) and subsequently showed their superior mechanical properties and drug release characteristics compared to collagen scaffolds. The objective of this research was to evaluate osteoblast growth and expression on these composite scaffolds.
  
  
  METHODS
  A thorough biochemical and morphological characterization was performed on MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells cultured on collagen and ELP-collagen scaffolds. Cell viability was assessed using a live/dead assay. Total DNA content of all cells present on various surfaces was quantified. Pre-osteoblast differentiation was assessed by measuring the alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin production. Mineral deposition by the cultured cells was visualized using the Von Kossa stain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that the ELP-collagen scaffolds were suitable substrates for cell culture that allowed MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cell attachment, differentiation, and subsequent mineralization over a period of 3 weeks. The ELP-collagen scaffolds displayed equivalent biocompatibility and cell-interacting properties to those of the neat collagen scaffolds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The novel ELP-collagen composite material may have future implications as a scaffold material for bone tissue engineering applications, for example, the treatment of alveolar bone loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Materials Science, School of Dentistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, United States.
authors.forename: Shruti S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Amruthwar
authors.forename: Amol V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Janorkar
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D015675:Osteocalcin; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase