Bitar Malak, Salih Vehid, Brown Robert A, Nazhat Showan N
Divsion of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD, UK.
J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2007 Feb;18(2):237-44. doi: 10.1007/s10856-006-0685-1.
Plastic compression of hydrated collagen gels rapidly produces biomimetic scaffolds of improved mechanical properties. These scaffolds can potentially be utilised as cell seeded systems for bone tissue engineering. This work investigated the influence of multiple unconfined compression on the biocompatibility and mechanical properties of such systems. Single and double compressed dense collagen matrices were produced and characterised for protein dry weight, morphology and mechanical strength. Compression related maintenance of the seeded HOS TE85 cell line viability in relation to the extent of compression was evaluated up to 10 days in culture using the TUNEL assay. Fluorescence Live/Dead assay was conducted to examine overall cell survival and morphology. Cell induced structural changes in the dense collagenous scaffolds were assessed by routine histology. The mechanical properties of the cellular scaffolds were also evaluated as a function of time in culture. It is clear that a single plastic compression step produced dense collagenous scaffolds capable of maintaining considerable cell viability and function as signs of matrix remodeling, and maintenance of mechanical properties were evident. Such scaffolds should therefore be further developed as systems for bone tissue regeneration.
水合胶原凝胶的塑性压缩能迅速产生具有改善机械性能的仿生支架。这些支架有可能被用作骨组织工程的细胞接种系统。这项工作研究了多次无侧限压缩对这类系统生物相容性和机械性能的影响。制备了单次和两次压缩的致密胶原基质，并对其蛋白质干重、形态和机械强度进行了表征。使用TUNEL分析法评估了接种的HOS TE85细胞系在培养长达10天的时间里，与压缩程度相关的压缩后活力维持情况。进行荧光活/死分析以检查总体细胞存活情况和形态。通过常规组织学评估细胞诱导的致密胶原支架中的结构变化。还评估了细胞支架的机械性能随培养时间的变化情况。显然，单次塑性压缩步骤产生了能够维持相当高细胞活力和功能的致密胶原支架，这表现为基质重塑的迹象，并且机械性能的维持也很明显。因此，这类支架应作为骨组织再生系统进一步开发。
