title: Biophysical and biological characterisation of collagen/resilin-like protein composite fibres.
abstract: Collagen type I, in various physical forms, is widely used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. To control the mechanical properties and biodegradability of collagen-based devices, exogenous cross-links are introduced into the 3D supramolecular structure. However, potent cross-linking methods are associated with cytotoxicity, whilst mild cross-linking methods are associated with suboptimal mechanical resilience. Herein, we assessed the influence of resilin, a super-elastic and highly stretchable protein found within structures in arthropods where energy storage and long-range elasticity are needed, on the biophysical and biological properties of mildly cross-linked extruded collagen fibres. The addition of resilin-like protein in the 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol) ether tetrasuccinimidyl glutarate cross-linked collagen fibres resulted in a significant increase of stress and strain at break values and a significant decrease of modulus values. The addition of resilin-like protein did not compromise cell metabolic activity and DNA concentration. All groups are supported parallel to the longitudinal fibre axis cell orientation. Herein we provide evidence that the addition of resilin-like protein in mildly cross-linked collagen fibres improves their biomechanical properties, without jeopardising their biological properties.
authors.affiliation: Vornia Biomaterials Ltd., Galway, Ireland. Institute of Materials Research & Innovation, University of Bolton, Bolton, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanami
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shtein
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorushanova
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivkin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miraftab
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Shoseyov
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Dowd
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandit
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Zeugolis
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008422:Materials Testing; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens; D019476:Insect Proteins; C030951:resilin