Biomaterials26(2005)1109–1117Nativefibrillarcollagenmembranesofmicron-scaleandsubmicronthicknessesforcellsupportandperfusionRobertB.Vernona,*,MichelD.Goodena,StephanieL.Larab,ThomasN.Wighta,baHopeHeartProgram,BenaroyaResearchInstituteatVirginiaMason,1201NinthAvenue,Seattle,Washington98101,USAbDepartmentofPathology,UniversityofWashington,Seattle,Washington98195,USAReceived20February2004;accepted17April2004Availableonline28May2004AbstractFibrillartypeIcollagenisnontoxic,biocompatible,andpossessesconsiderablestrengthandstability.Inastudyofscaffoldsforuseinlaminatedtissuesubstitutes,weexaminedthepropertiesofmembranesmadefromair-driedhydrogelsofcollagenfibrilsthatwerepolymerizedfromnative,monomericcollagen.Planarcollagenmembranes(CMs)of0.1–5.3mmdrythicknessweremadebyvariationofthecollagenconcentrationand/orthevolumeofthehydrogel.TheplanarCMs,whichwerecomprisedofadensefeltworkoflongcollagenfibrils70–100nmindiameter,showedconsiderableresistancetoruptureandretainedtheirmembranouscharacterafter6weeksintissueculturemediumat37�C.CMsthatwererelativelythickwhendryexhibitedagreaterproportionalincreaseinrehydratedthicknessandagreaterdiffusivity(whenrehydrated)to4.3kDadextranthandidCMsthatwererelativelythinwhendry.Hollow,tubularCMsofseveralconfigurationswerepreparedbyembedmentofsolid,removableformsintocollagenhydrogelspriortodrying.Byuseofspecialfixtures,aplanarCMthatincorporatedmultiple,paralleltubeswasfabricated.Insummary,hydrogelsoffibrillarcollagencanbetransformedintomembranousstructuressuitablefortissueengineeringapplications.r2004ElsevierLtd.Allrightsreserved.Keywords:Collagen;ECM;Hydrogel;Membrane;Microstructure;Scaffold1.IntroductionTheprimarygoaloftissueengineeringistocreatematerialconstructsthatimprovethequalityofhealingand/orsupplementorreplacemalfunctionaltissuesandorgans.Suchconstructsusuallyconsistofoneormorecelltypesincontactwithanoncellular‘‘scaffold’’thatprovidesphysicalsupportforthecellsandestablishesfunctionalmicro-andmacro-architecture.Typicalscaf-fol...
