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Mechanical & Cell Culture Properties of Elastin-Like Polypeptide, Collagen, Bioglass, and Carbon Nanosphere Composites

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Abstract

Collagen, the most commonly used extra-cellular matrix protein for tissue engineering applications, displays poor mechanical properties. Here, we report on the preparation and characterization of novel multi-component composite systems that incorporate a genetically engineered, biocompatible polymer (elastin-like polypeptide, ELP), biodegradable ceramic (45S5 bioglass), carbon nanosphere chains (CNSC), and minimal amount (~25% w/w) of collagen. We hypothesized that incorporation of bioglass and CNSC would improve mechanical properties of the composites. Our results showed that the tensile strength and elastic modulus nearly doubled after addition of the bioglass and CNSC compared to the control ELP–collagen hydrogels. Further, MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts were cultured within the composite hydrogels and a thorough biochemical and morphological characterization was performed. Live/dead assay confirmed high cell viability (>95%) for all hydrogels by day 21 of culture. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin (OCN) production assessed the pre-osteoblast differentiation. Normalized ALP activity was highest for the cells cultured within ELP–bioglass–collagen hydrogels, while normalized OCN production was equivalent for all hydrogels. Alizarin red staining confirmed the mineral deposition by the cells within all hydrogels. Thus, the multi-component composite hydrogels displayed improved mechanical and cell culture properties and may be suitable scaffold materials for bone tissue engineering.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support by the School of Dentistry through the intramural research support program is gratefully acknowledged. Authors thank Clean Technology Nano, LLC, for the contribution of their CNSC (Grafex) material. Authors thank Mr. Todd Owens for construction of the custom acrylic mold, Dr. Aaron Puckett for his advice on mechanical testing, and Mr. C. Andrew Weeks for the help with DNA analysis (all from University of Mississippi Medical Center). This work made use of various instruments in the Department of Biomedical Materials Science User Facility. NDS participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program. TSW participated in the Undergraduate and Professional Student Training in Advanced Research Techniques (UPSTART) Program. Authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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  1. Department of Biomedical Materials Science, School of Dentistry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA

    Tyler S. Wheeler, Nathanael D. Sbravati & Amol V. Janorkar

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  1. Tyler S. Wheeler
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Correspondence to Amol V. Janorkar.

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Associate Editor Michael S. Detamore oversaw the review of this article.

Tyler S. Wheeler and Nathanael D. Sbravati contributed equally to this work.

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Wheeler, T.S., Sbravati, N.D. & Janorkar, A.V. Mechanical & Cell Culture Properties of Elastin-Like Polypeptide, Collagen, Bioglass, and Carbon Nanosphere Composites. Ann Biomed Eng 41, 2042–2055 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-013-0825-3

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