Interpenetrating networks of fibrillar and amorphous collagen promote cell spreading and hydrogel stability

Abstract Hydrogels composed of collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body, are widely used as scaffolds for tissue engineering due to their ability to support cellular activity. However, collagen hydrogels with encapsulated cells often experience bulk contraction due to cell-generated forces, and conventional strategies to mitigate this undesired deformation often compromise either the fibrillar microstructure or cytocompatibility of the collagen. To support the spreading of encapsulated cells while preserving the structural integrity of the gels, we present an interpenetrating network (IPN) of two distinct collagen networks with different crosslinking mechanisms and microstructures. First, a physically self-assembled collagen network preserves the fibrillar microstructure and enables the spreading of encapsulated human corneal mesenchymal stromal cells. Second, an amorphous collagen network covalently crosslinked with bioorthogonal chemistry fills the voids between fibrils and stabilizes the gel against cell-induced contraction. This collagen IPN balances the biofunctionality of natural collagen with the stability of covalently crosslinked, engineered polymers. Taken together, these data represent a new avenue for maintaining both the fiber-induced spreading of cells and the structural integrity of collagen hydrogels by leveraging an IPN of fibrillar and amorphous collagen networks. Statement of significance Collagen hydrogels are widely used as scaffolds for tissue engineering due to their support of cellular activity. However, collagen hydrogels often undergo undesired changes in size and shape due to cell-generated forces, and conventional strategies to mitigate this deformation typically compromise either the fibrillar microstructure or cytocompatibility of the collagen. In this study, we introduce an innovative interpenetrating network (IPN) that combines physically self-assembled, fibrillar collagen—ideal for promoting cell adhesion and spreading—with covalently crosslinked, amorphous collagen—ideal for enhancing bulk hydrogel stability. Our IPN design maintains the native fibrillar structure of collagen while significantly improving resistance against cell-induced contraction, providing a promising solution to enhance the performance and reliability of collagen hydrogels for tissue engineering applications. Graphical abstract