Nano- and Microfibrous Materials Based on Collagen for Tissue Engineering: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties

The creation of three-dimensional structures possessing biomimetic properties is of considerable interest for regenerative medicine. Nonwoven materials with a diameter of fibers from 100 nm to 3 µm have been obtained by electrospinning from dispersions of collagen in hexafluoroisopropanol and acetic acid (AA). A study by the circular dichroism method indicates the predominant preservation of a collagen triple helix in produced materials. To preserve the fibrous structure in aqueous media, collagen is cross-linked by genipin in isopropanol and PBS (phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4). The mechanical and biological properties of cross-linked materials have been studied—it is shown that the mechanical behavior of collagen materials in the physiological range of loads corresponds to the mechanical behavior of the native aorta. Cross-linked fibrous materials do not possess cytotoxicity, and they contribute to the adhesion and proliferation of cells.