tailoring mechanical properties of collagen-based scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering the effects of ph, temperature and ionic strength on gelation裁剪力学性能collagen-based血管组织工程支架ph值的影响,在凝胶化温度和离子强度.pdf

Polymers 2010, 2, 664-680; doi:10.3390/polym2040664 OPEN ACCESS polymers ISSN 2073-4360 /journal/polymers Article Tailoring Mechanical Properties of Collagen-Based Scaffolds for Vascular Tissue Engineering: The Effects of pH, Temperature and Ionic Strength on Gelation Matteo Achilli and Diego Mantovani * Laboratory for Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Department of Materials Engineering Research Centre, Quebec University Hospital, Laval University, Pavillon Pouliot, 1745-E, Quebec City, G1K 7P4, Canada; E-Mail: matteo.achilli.1@ulaval.ca * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: diego.mantovani@gmn.ulaval.ca; Tel.: +1-418-656-2131 ext. 6270; Fax: +1-418-656-5343. Received: 8 October 2010; in revised form: 27 October 2010 / Accepted: 2 December 2010 / Published: 6 December 2010 Abstract: Collagen gels have been widely studied for applications in tissue engineering because of their biological implications. Considering their use as scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering, the main limitation has always been related to their low mechanical properties. During the process of in vitro self-assembly, which leads to collagen gelation, the size of the fibrils, their chemical interactions, as well as the resulting microstructure are regulated by three main experimental conditions: pH, ionic strength and temperature. In this work, these three parameters were modulated in order to increase the mechanical properties