Advances Toward Forming Synthetic Mimetic Tendon. Issue 18 (11th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aishanjiang, Dilinazi; Green, Emily C.; Li, Heng; Minus, Marilyn L.
• Is Part Of: MRS advances. Volume 1:Issue 18(2016)
• Page Start: 1283
• Page End: 1288
• Publication Date: 2016-04-11
• Subjects: biomimetic (assembly), -- biomaterial, -- fiber; Electrical engineering -- Congresses; Physics -- Congresses; Materials -- Research -- Congresses; Materials science -- Congresses; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/adv.2016.252
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2059-8521

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Collagen is the most abundant protein present in the human body and found in connective tissues, bone, and tendon. It is also known as a natural resource for healing damaged skin tissues [1]. In this study, under specific microenvironment conditions, mimetic collagen gels were successfully formed synthetically from reconstituted Bovine type I collagen monomers. This was achieved by controlling ionic strength, temperature and pH, allowing fibrils with native mimetic D periodic banding structure to assemble spontaneously within the gels. In addition, by providing appropriate aging temperatures and times, mature collagen fibril growth is also realized in the gels in vitro . Mimetic gels were subsequently formed into fibers through a wet-spinning process. These spun fibers were found to preserve the native mimetic D periodic banding and fibrillar structure formed in the initial gels. As a result, the synthetic fibers resemble native tendon. Here structural development within the gel samples and fibers as a function of processing was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results in this study also show a potentially new route for the fabrication of synthetic collagen fibers mimicking tendon, which may find applications as engineered tissues or scaffolding materials.