Physically-strengthened Collagen Bioactive Nanocomposite Gels for Bone: A Feasibility Study

Physically-strengthened Collagen Bioactive Nanocomposite Gels for Bone: A Feasibility Study

Collagen hydrogel systems have been limited in their uses for hard tissue engineering due to their poormechanical properties in spite of their excellent biocompatibility. Physical strengthening and incorporation of theinorganic substances are considered as promising ways to improve mechanical stability of the collagen gel, whileproviding effective biomimetic environment for cells. Here, we developed three-dimensional matrix by rolling upthe plastically-compressed collagen hydrogel composites with mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticle (BGn). Monodispersed BGn with a size of ~90 nm was well incorporated within the collagen matrix which has nanofibrillarstructure. The mechanical properties of the composite hydrogels measured by dynamic mechanical analysis weresignificantly improved by the compression of the hydrogels and further improved by addition of BGn into hydrogels. Moreover, the proliferation rate and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cellscultured within the composite hydrogels were enhanced by incorporation of BGn. The results suggest that physically-strengthened nanocomposite collagen hydrogel would be useful in hard tissue engineering applications.

Collagen hydrogel systems have been limited in their uses for hard tissue engineering due to their poormechanical properties in spite of their excellent biocompatibility. Physical strengthening and incorporation of theinorganic substances are considered as promising ways to improve mechanical stability of the collagen gel, whileproviding effective biomimetic environment for cells. Here, we developed three-dimensional matrix by rolling upthe plastically-compressed collagen hydrogel composites with mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticle (BGn). Monodispersed BGn with a size of ~90 nm was well incorporated within the collagen matrix which has nanofibrillarstructure. The mechanical properties of the composite hydrogels measured by dynamic mechanical analysis weresignificantly improved by the compression of the hydrogels and further improved by addition of BGn into hydrogels. Moreover, the proliferation rate and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cellscultured within the composite hydrogels were enhanced by incorporation of BGn. The results suggest that physically-strengthened nanocomposite collagen hydrogel would be useful in hard tissue engineering applications.