Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics Research Group

Papers in Scientific Journals

Bioinspiring Chondrosia reniformis (Nardo, 1847) Collagen-Based Hydrogel: A New Extraction Method to Obtain a Sticky and Self-Healing Collagenous Material

Abstract

Collagen is a natural and abundant polymer that serves multiple functions in both invertebrates and vertebrates. As collagen is the natural scaffolding for cells, collagen-based hydrogels are regarded as ideal materials for tissue engineering applications since they can mimic the natural cellular microenvironment. Chondrosia reniformis is a marine demosponge particularly rich in collagen, characterized by the presence of labile interfibrillar crosslinks similarly to those described in the mutable collagenous tissues (MCTs) of echinoderms. As a result single fibrils can be isolated using calcium-chelating and disulphide-reducing chemicals. In the present work we firstly describe a new extraction method that directly produces a highly hydrated hydrogel with interesting self-healing properties. The materials obtained were then biochemically and rheologically characterized. Our investigation has shown that the developed extraction procedure is able to extract collagen as well as other proteins and Glycosaminoglycans (GAG)-like molecules that give the collagenous hydrogel interesting and new rheological properties when compared to other described collagenous materials. The present work motivates further in-depth investigations towards the development of a new class of injectable collagenous hydrogels with tailored specifications.

Journal
Marine Drugs
Volume
15
Issue
12
Pagination
380-397
Publisher
MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)
ISSN
1660-3397
URL
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/15/12/380
Keywords
Chondrosia reniformis, collagen rheology, hydrogel, marine biomaterials, marine collagen, marine sponge GAG
Rights
Open Access
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Status
published
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