Pre-Magnetic Treatment and Electrolysis Methods as a Novel Strategy to Obtain Collagen-based Bilayer Scaffold

摘要

Osteochondral defect requires scaffold with bilayer properties in which each layer is optimized for cartilage and bone layer. In this study we propose a novel method to obtain bilayer scaffold by concentrating iron-oxide nanoparticles (IONP) at specific region of scaffold. Initially we mixed IONP and collagen solution at pre-determined ratio, pour into the mold and apply the magnetic treatment. Next, we apply electrolysis to such system and we observed the growth of collagen gel initiated at the cathode surface towards the opposite side. Morphology analysis revealed that scaffold consist of two regions with completely different pore sizes (320.6±135.6 μm and 72.5±32.9 μm), with the small pore size region indicated heavy accumulation of IONP. The bilayer morphology is absence when the magnetic treatment is not applied or when IONP is not added into solution. Further mechanical testing and cell culture experiment shown the benefit of IONP addition as strengthening agent without inducing significant cell toxicity.