Biological behavior of fibroblast on contractile collagen hydrogel crosslinked by γ-irradiation

Collagen hydrogels exhibited a contractile trend in simulated body fluid. In this study, the internal pore architecture and mechanical properties of collagen hydrogel prepared by radiation crosslinking was evaluated during contraction, and the effect of contractile collagen hydrogels on the biological behavior of fibroblasts were investigated in vitro, such as viability, proliferation, morphology, apoptosis, cycle, and stress fiber. The results showed that accompany with contraction of collagen hydrogel, the pore diameter of the hydrogels decreased and compressive modulus increased. However, fibroblasts can grow on contractile collagen hydrogels. Indeed, collagen hydrogel contracted from circumference to the interior, which retard the spreading of fibroblasts on the dynamic substrate and interrupted the initial attachment of the cell. However, contraction of collagen hydrogel had not only significant influence on the L929 cell proliferation, but also accelerated the apoptosis. Cell cycle analysis showed that contractile collagen hydrogel may promote cell cycle from G0/G1 phase to S phase, and DNA synthesis and cell proliferation were enhanced, but which may be different in contraction process. Therefore, as a scaffold for tissue engineering, the strategy for inhibition of the contraction of collagen hydrogel should be taken into account.