Nanofibrous gelatin-based biomaterial with improved biomimicry using D-periodic self-assembled atelocollagen

Borrego-González, S., Dalby, M. J. and Díaz-Cuenca, A. (2021) Nanofibrous gelatin-based biomaterial with improved biomimicry using D-periodic self-assembled atelocollagen. Biomimetics, 6(1), 20. (doi: 10.3390/biomimetics6010020) (PMID:33803778) (PMCID:PMC8006151)

Abstract

Design of bioinspired materials that mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) at the nanoscale is a challenge in tissue engineering. While nanofibrillar gelatin materials mimic chemical composition and nano-architecture of natural ECM collagen components, it lacks the characteristic D-staggered array (D-periodicity) of 67 nm, which is an important cue in terms of cell recognition and adhesion properties. In this study, a nanofibrous gelatin matrix with improved biomimicry is achieved using a formulation including a minimal content of D-periodic self-assembled atelocollagen. We suggest a processing route approach consisting of the thermally induced phase separation of the gelatin based biopolymeric mixture precursor followed by chemical-free material cross-linking. The matrix nanostructure is characterized using field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The cell culture assays indicate that incorporation of 2.6 wt.% content of D-periodic atelocollagen to the gelatin material, produces a significant increase of MC3T3-E1 mouse preosteoblast cells attachment and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) proliferation, in comparison with related bare gelatin matrices. The presented results demonstrate the achievement of an efficient route to produce a cost-effective, compositionally defined and low immunogenic “collagen-like” instructive biomaterial, based on gelatin.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Andalusian Ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation (Proyecto Excelencia P10-CTS-6681) and the Talentia Program.
• Keywords: Atelocollagen, D-periodic collagen, nanofibrous gelatin, collagen-like biomaterials, TIPS, 3D cell culture.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Dalby, Professor Matthew

Creator Roles

Dalby, M. J.: Methodology, Validation, Resources, Supervision

• Authors: Borrego-González, S., Dalby, M. J., and Díaz-Cuenca, A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
• Journal Name: Biomimetics
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2313-7673
• ISSN (Online): 2313-7673
• Published Online: 18 March 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Biomimetics 6(1): 20
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License