Design and biofabrication of dermal regeneration scaffolds: role of oligomeric collagen fibril density and architecture.

To evaluate dermal regeneration scaffolds custom-fabricated from fibril-forming oligomeric collagen where the total content and spatial gradient of collagen fibrils was specified. Microstructural and mechanical features were verified by electron microscopy and tensile testing. The ability of dermal scaffolds to induce regeneration of rat full-thickness skin wounds was determined and compared with no fill control, autograft skin and a commercial collagen dressing. Increasing fibril content of oligomer scaffolds inhibited wound contraction and decreased myofibroblast marker expression. Cellular and vascular infiltration of scaffolds over the 14-day period varied with the graded density and orientation of fibrils. Fibril content, spatial gradient and orientation are important collagen scaffold design considerations for promoting vascularization and dermal regeneration while reducing wound contraction.