Strain-induced collagen organization at the micro-level in fibrin-based engineered tissue constructs
Nicky de Jonge1, Frans M W Kanters, Frank P T Baaijens
1Soft Tissue Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands. n.d.jonge@tue.nl
Annals of Biomedical Engineering
|November 28, 2012
Summary
Engineered tissues show how cells reorganize collagen fibers under different strains. Understanding this strain-induced collagen organization is key for creating tissues with specific architectures.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Cellular Mechanics
Background:
- Achieving predefined collagen architecture in engineered tissues remains a challenge due to limited understanding of collagen remodeling.
- Collagen organization is crucial for functional tissue development and mechanical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate strain-induced collagen (re)organization in fibrin-based engineered tissues.
- To analyze collagen remodeling under static and cyclic straining conditions with varying constraints.
- To understand the influence of cell-matrix interactions and mechanical forces on collagen alignment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized nondestructive time-lapse imaging for observing collagen dynamics.
- Employed myofibroblast-populated fibrin gels within biaxially constrained setups.
- Applied static equi-biaxial to static uniaxial loading and cyclic uniaxial straining with directional changes.
Main Results:
- Under static strain, collagen aligned parallel to the applied force.
- Under cyclic strain with biaxial constraints, collagen oriented perpendicular to the strain direction.
- Changing strain direction induced rapid surface collagen reorientation, slower in deeper layers influenced by contact guidance.
Conclusions:
- Cellular forces and matrix constraints significantly influence collagen organization in engineered tissues.
- Cyclic straining under biaxial constraints leads to perpendicular collagen alignment, potentially due to cell strain shielding.
- Contact guidance plays a dominant role in deeper tissue layers, highlighting the importance of initial matrix organization.
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