Nano-film modification of collagen hydrogels for controlled growth factor release

Abstract

We demonstrate the fabrication of nano-modified collagen hydrogels that afford controlled growth factor release for induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell culture. Specifically, we focused on the preparation and characterization of graphene oxide (GO) sheets incorporated into collagen-based hydrogels for controlled growth factor release. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) bound to collagen via electrostatic interactions and partial hydrogen bonding. Various GO sheet quantities were incorporated and evenly distributed in collagen hydrogels. Taking advantage of the low permeability of GO sheets, FGF-2 release was regulated in a controlled manner. In this manuscript, three different GO sheet concentrations were applied to obtain different release profiles over a period of 400h in the presence of serum. The incorporation of GO sheets into collagen hydrogels offers a new approach to control the release of biologically active macromolecules (e.g., growth factors).