Cell Alignment Driven by Mechanically Induced Collagen Fiber Alignment in Collagen/Alginate Coatings

Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 2015 Sep;21(9):881-8. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEC.2014.0479. Epub 2015 Mar 17.

Abstract

For many years it has been a major challenge to regenerate damaged tissues using synthetic or natural materials. To favor the healing processes after tendon, cornea, muscle, or brain injuries, aligned collagen-based architectures are of utmost interest. In this study, we define a novel aligned coating based on a collagen/alginate (COL/ALG) multilayer film. The coating exhibiting a nanofibrillar structure is cross-linked with genipin for stability in physiological conditions. By stretching COL/ALG-coated polydimethylsiloxane substrates, we developed a versatile method to align the collagen fibrils of the polymeric coating. Assays on cell morphology and alignment were performed to investigate the properties of these films. Microscopic assessments revealed that cells align with the stretched collagen fibrils of the coating. The degree of alignment is tuned by the stretching rate (i.e., the strain) of the COL/ALG-coated elastic substrate. Such coatings are of great interest for strategies that require aligned nanofibrillar biological material as a substrate for tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alginates / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / cytology*
  • Astrocytes / drug effects
  • Astrocytes / ultrastructure
  • Cattle
  • Cell Shape / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible / pharmacology*
  • Collagen / pharmacology*
  • Fibroblasts / cytology*
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / ultrastructure
  • Glucuronic Acid / pharmacology
  • Hexuronic Acids / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Rats

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Collagen