INEB RECENT PUBLICATIONS: "Biocomposite of collagen nanofibers and nanohydroxyapatite for bone regeneration"

INEB researchers recently published an article in the scientific journal Biofabrication, available since 13 June 2014.

Title: "Biocomposite of collagen nanofibers and nanohydroxyapatite for bone regeneration"

Authors: Nilza Ribeiro^1,2, Susana R. Sousa^1,3, Clemens A. van Blitterswijk⁴, Lorenzo Moroni⁴, Fernando J. Monteiro^1,2
1INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Biocomposites Group, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 823,4150-180 Porto, Portugal
²Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Engenharia, Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica e de Materiais, Rua Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
³REQUIMTE, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
⁴University of Twente, Tissue Regeneration Department, Building Zuidhorst ZH 147 Drienerlolaan 5 - 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands

This work aimed at designing a synthetic construct that mimics natural bone extracellular matrix through innovative approaches based on simultaneous type I collagen electrospinning and nanophased HA electrospraying using non-denaturating conditions and non-toxic reagents. Morphological results assessed by SEM and AFM showed a mesh of collagen nanofibers embedded with crystals of HA. The network architecture allows cell access to both collagen nanofibers and HA crystals. The nanoHA agglomerates improved adhesion and metabolic activity of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. This new nanostructured collagen-nanoHA composite holds a great potential for bone defects healing or as a functionally membrane for guided bone tissue regeneration and in treating further bone diseases.