title: Preparation and properties of cellulose nanocrystals reinforced collagen composite films.
abstract: Collagen films have been widely used in the field of biomedical engineering. However, the poor mechanical properties of collagen have limited its application. Here, rod-like cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were fabricated and used to reinforce collagen films. A series of collagen/CNCs films were prepared by collagen solution with CNCs suspensions homogeneously dispersed at CNCs: collagen weight ratios of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10. The morphology of the resulting films was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the enhancement of the thermomechanical properties of the collagen/CNCs composites were demonstrated by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and mechanical testing. Among the CNCs contents used, a loading of 7 wt % led to the maximum mechanical properties for the collagen/CNCs composite films. In addition, in vitro cell culture studies revealed that the CNCs have no negative effect on the cell morphology, viability, and proliferation and possess good biocompatibility. We conclude that the incorporation of CNCs is a simple and promising way to reinforce collagen films without impairing biocompatibility. This study demonstrates that the composite films show good potential for use in the field of skin tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
authors.forename: Weichang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Yuanming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002482:Cellulose / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000187:drug effects; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose; D003094:Collagen
keywords: biocompatibility; cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs); collagen; composite films; mechanical strength