Browsing by Subject "3D collagen scaffold"
  • Publication
    3D collagen scaffold for peripherial nerve regeneration
    ( 2018-05) Rivera-Martínez, Carol A. ; Latorre-Esteves, Magda ; College of Engineering ; Almodóvar Montañez, Jorge ; Resto Irizarry, Pedro ; Juan, Eduardo J. ; Department of Chemical Engineering ; Acevedo Rullán, Aldo
    The nerve regeneration process is a complex pathway that most of the time is not completed and represents a life of limitations for people that suffers from injury or diseases that compromises neuron functionality involving the peripherial nervous system. The use of allografts and autografts are the primary solutions, although many limitations arise such as donor site morbidity and limited grafting material. Basic requirements for the nerve regeneration process, involve presence of natural components, neurotrophic factors and 3D morphology to promote physical and biological support to surroundings cells. These elements are the fundaments to incorporated within the design of a biomaterial that will promote peripherial nerve regeneration. Nerve conduits have brought interest as powerful solutions based in the fact of been natural polymer 3D structures with highly tunable properties and, that mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this research a 3D collagen type I scaffold will be presented with tunable properties such as nanofiber diameter and orientation. Diameter and orientation of the nanofibers are crucial factors to influence the cell interactions and further cell functionalization towards proliferation and expression of neurotrophic factors and guide the regeneration process. Electrospinning technique was used to develop the scaffold and its versatility made possible the modification to the scaffold properties. The morphology of the scaffold nanofibers was analyzed with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), along with a quantitative measured with ImageJ software. The chemical composition of collagen type I was corroborated with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Fluorescent microscopy was used to identify the cell adherence to the scaffold and monitored cell growth direction influenced by the orientation of the scaffold nanofibers. The results showcase the potential of electrospun collagen type I scaffold to promote cell adhesion, along with control of direction and organization of cell growth. The development of the scaffold with variable morphologies (random and align) and diameters promotes a 3D platform, baseline data study for nerve regeneration process and wide design possibilities for a nerve conduit that best fits the cell environment and mimics the ECM.