THE OPTIMAL CROSSLINKING CONDITION OF COLLAGEN SPONGES AS A SCAFFOLD MATRIX FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING

Abstract

Implanted collagen sponge acts as scaffold matrix as well as as carrier of growth factors. To control bioabsorbability of collagen sponge without impairing original biocompatibility, dehydrothermal crosslinking are now applied. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal condition of dehydrotheaml treatment of collagen sponge by means of evaluation of cell acceptability in vivo and in vitro. The collagen sponge was made from pepsin processed porcine atelo-collagen with freezedry-method The obtained sponges were thermally crosslinked at 140 degrees centigrade in vacuo for 1 to 48 hr. For in vivo cell infiltration test, collagen sponges were implanted subcutaneously into mice to evaluate cell acceptability of sponges as a function of crosslinking time. For in vitro initial cell attachment test, murine fibro-blasts were seeded onto the collagen sponges and cultured. After 6 hr agitation culture, DNA was extracted from the sponges with infiltrated fibroblast and then chromatically quantified. The cells lined on the implanted sponge surface and partially infiltrated into the sponge. The center portion of the implanted sponge into mice remained relatively acellular. Cell infiltration was dependent on the crosslinking times of sponges. In contrast, fibroblast was infiltrated into the center portion of sponges after 6 hr agitation culture. Among the sponges crosslinked for 1 to 48 hr, those that had received a 12 hr crosslinking treatment showed the most suitable biocompatibility for both in vivo and in vitro cell infiltration.