Aligned fibrillar collagen matrices obtained by shear flow deposition

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Babette Lanfer - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Uwe Freudenberg - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Ralf Zimmermann - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Dimitar Stamov - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Vincent Körber - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)
  • Carsten Werner - , Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

Here we present a new technique to generate surface-bound collagen I fibril matrices with differing structural characteristics. Aligned collagen fibrils were deposited on planar substrates from collagen solutions streaming through a microfluidic channel system. Collagen solution concentration, degree of gelation, shear rate and pre-coating of the substrate were demonstrated to determine the orientation and density of the immobilized fibrils. The obtained matrices were imaged using confocal reflection microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Image analysis techniques were applied to evaluate collagen fibril orientation and coverage. As expected, the degree of collagen fibril orientation increased with increasing flow rates of the solution while the matrix density increased at higher collagen solution concentrations and on hydrophobic polymer pre-coatings. Additionally, length of the immobilized collagen fibrils increased with increasing solution concentration and gelation time.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3888-3895
Number of pages8
JournalBiomaterials
Volume29
Issue number28
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2008
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 18606448
ORCID /0000-0003-0189-3448/work/162844098

Keywords

Keywords

  • Alignment, Collagen fibrils, Material properties, Microfluidics, Self-assembly