Mechanical properties of collagen-based scaffolds for tissue regeneration

Collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) scaffolds for the regeneration of skin and nerve have previously been fabricated by freeze-drying a slurry containing a co-precipitate of collagen and glycosaminoglycan. Recently, mineralized collagen-glycosaminoglycan (MCG) scaffolds for bone regeneration have been developed by freeze-drying a slurry containing a co-precipitate of calcium phosphate, collagen and glycosaminoglycan. Bi-layer scaffolds with CG and MCG layers have been developed for cartilage-bone joint regeneration. The mechanical properties (Young's modulus and strength) of scaffolds are critical for handling during surgery as well as for cell differentiation. The mechanical properties of the MCG scaffolds are low in the dry state (e.g. they can be crushed under hard thumb pressure) as well as in the hydrated state (e.g. they do not have the optimal modulus for mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to differentiate into bone cells). In addition, there is interest in extending the application of CG scaffolds to tendon and ligament, which carry significant mechanical loads. This thesis aims to improve the mechanical properties of the both CG and MCG scaffolds and to characterize their microstructure and mechanical properties. Models for cellular solids suggest that the overall mechanical properties of the scaffold can be increased by either increasing the mechanical properties of the solid from which the scaffold is made or by increasing the relative density of the scaffold. In an attempt to increase the solid properties, the MCG scaffolds with increasing mineral content were fabricated.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Kanungo, Biraja Prasad, 1980-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lorna J. Gibson.

• Materials Science and Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/53245

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/53245