Evaluation of photochemically cross-linked collagen/gold nanoparticle composites as potential skin tissue scaffolds

Collagen type I is the main structural unit in skin tissue and is therefore used preferentially in skin tissue scaffolds. However, collagen-based 3D scaffolds have weak aqueous stability and degradation profiles in their uncross-linked states and chemical cross-linking reagents arise toxicity concerns, which generally restrict the spectrum of their biomedical applicability. Here, the research goal is to photochemically cross-link collagen type I with rose bengal (RB) when subjected to green laser light and to investigate the effect of silk sericin-capped gold nanoparticles (S-AuNP) when incorporated into scaffolds on the cross-linking process and thus on the scaffold properties. All the collagen scaffolds, that is plain collagen (C), collagen/S-AuNP (C-Au), cross-linked collagen (C-RBL), and cross-linked collagen/S-AuNP (C-AuRBL) were characterized for their potential as skin tissue scaffolds. C-AuRBL group had the best thermal stability, resistance to enzymatic degradation, and more uniform pore size distribution. None of the groups had cytotoxicity (cell viability > 70%) regarding the microscopic observations and MTT cell viability assays for L929 fibroblasts. L929 fibroblasts and primary adult human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKa) were also separately seeded on C-AuRBL scaffolds and according to microscopy results, they could support the stimulation of adhesion, morphological changes, and spreading of both cells, thereby encouraging the usage of this fabrication strategy for prospective skin tissue scaffolds.