title: Rapid Fabrication of Living Tissue Models by Collagen Plastic Compression: Understanding Three-Dimensional Cell Matrix RepairIn Vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To produce biomimetic collagen scaffolds for tissue modeling and as tissue-engineered implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Control of collagen fibril material parameters in collagen hydrogel scaffolds by using plastic compression (PC), resulting in direct control of cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell-cell interaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We were able to control the density of collagen in such scaffolds from between 0.2% and 30%, and controllably layer the fibrils in the Z-plane. Cell migration was observed in gels where a gradient of collagen density was present. In these gels, cells preferentially migrated toward the collagen-dense areas. Cell proliferation rates were measurably higher in dense collagen gels.
  
  
  METHODS
  The use of PC to control material properties of collagen hydrogels results in collagen scaffolds that are biomimetic. These collagen gels reproduce the relevant matrix-mechanical environment in which behavior is more representative of that foundin vivo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The material properties of native collagen type I gels can be engineered to match those found in tissuesin vivoto elicit more biomimetic cell behavior.
authors: UCL Tissue Repair and Engineering Centre, Institute of Orthopaedics, Division of Surgery, University College London , Stanmore Campus, London, United Kingdom .
authors: Umber
authors: U
authors: Cheema
authors: UCL Tissue Repair and Engineering Centre, Institute of Orthopaedics, Division of Surgery, University College London , Stanmore Campus, London, United Kingdom .
authors: Robert A
authors: RA
authors: Brown