Altering the concentration of silica tunes the functional properties of collagen-silica composite scaffolds to suit various clinical requirements.
The success of a tissue engineering scaffold depends on a fine balance being achieved between the physicochemical and biological properties. This study attempts to understand the influence of silica concentration on the functional properties of collagen-silica (CS) composite scaffolds for soft tissue engineering applications. Increasing the ratio of silica to collagen (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5 and 2.0 w/w) gave a marked advantage in terms of improving the water uptake and compressive modulus of the CS scaffolds, while also enhancing the biological stability and the turnover time. With increase in silica concentration the water uptake and compressive modulus increased concurrently, whereas it was not so for surface porous architecture and biocompatibility which are crucial for cell adhesion and infiltration. Silica:collagen ratio of ≤1 exhibits favourable surface biocompatibility, and any further increase in silica concentration has a detrimental effect.
Central Leather Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, 2 Rafi Marg, New Delhi 110 001, India.
Sathiamurthi
S
Perumal
Central Leather Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India.
Satiesh Kumar
SK
Ramadass
Central Leather Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India.
Arun
A
Gopinath
Central Leather Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Anusandhan Bhawan, 2 Rafi Marg, New Delhi 110 001, India. Electronic address: madhan@clri.res.in.
Balaraman
B
Madhan
Central Leather Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India.
Ganesh
G
Shanmugam
Biomaterials and Advanced Drug Delivery Laboratory, Cardiovascular Pharmacology Division, Cardiovascular Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
Jayakumar
J
Rajadas
Central Leather Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Adyar, Chennai 600020, India.
Asit Baran
AB
Mandal
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D051379:Mice; D016062:Porosity; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D024042:Collagen Type I; D014867:Water; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
Collagen; Organic–inorganic composites; Silica; Tissue engineering; Wound healing