title: Topologically defined composites of collagen types I and V as in vitro cell culture scaffolds.
abstract: Cell fate is known to be triggered by cues from the extracellular matrix, including its chemical, biological and physical characteristics. Specifically, mechanical and topological properties are increasingly recognized as important signals. The aim of this work was to provide an easily accessible biomimetic in vitro platform of topologically defined collagen I matrices to dissect cell behaviour under various conditions in vitro. We reconstituted covalently bound layers of three-dimensional (3-D) networks of collagen type I and collagen type V with a defined network topology. A new erosion algorithm enabled us to analyse the mean pore diameter and fibril content, while the mean fibril diameter was examined by an autocorrelation method. Different concentrations and ratios of collagen I and V resulted in pore diameters from 2.4 to 4.5μm and fibril diameters from 0.6 to 0.8μm. A comparison of telopeptide intact collagen I to telopeptide deficient collagen I revealed obvious differences in network structure. The good correlation of the topological data to measurements of network stiffness as well as invasion of human dermal fibroblasts proves that the topological analysis provides meaningful measures of the functional characteristics of the reconstituted 3-D collagen matrices.
authors.affiliation: Biophysical Chemistry Group, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig 04103, Germany. Electronic address: katja.franke@uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.affiliation: Biophysical Chemistry Group, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Jiranuwat
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sapudom
authors.affiliation: Biophysical Chemistry Group, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Liv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kalbitzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Anderegg
authors.affiliation: Biophysical Chemistry Group, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
authors.forename: Tilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pompe
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000737:chemistry*; D024062:Collagen Type V / Q000737:chemistry*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D024062:Collagen Type V
keywords: Collagen structure; Fibroblast; Image analysis; Mechanical properties; Topology