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Biomimetic Collagen/Hydroxyapatite Composite Scaffolds: Fabrication and Characterizations

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Abstract

Biomimetic collagen/hydroxyapatite scaffolds have been prepared by microwave assisted co-titration of phosphorous acid-containing collagen solution and calcium hydroxide-containing solution. The resultant scaffolds have been characterised with respect to their mechanical properties, composition and microstructures. It was observed that the in situ precipitation process could combine collagen fibril formation and hydroxyapatite (HAp) formation in one process step. Collagen fibrils guided hydroxyapatite precipitation to form bone-mimic collagen/hydroxyapatite composite containing both intrafibrillar and interfibrillar hydroxyapatites. The mineral phase was determined as low crystalline calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite with calcium to phosphorus ratio (Ca/P) of 1.4. The obtained 1% (collagen/HAp = 75/25) scaffold has a porosity of 72% and a mean pore size of 69.4 μm. The incorporation of hydroxyapatite into collagen matrix improved the mechanical modulus of the scaffold significantly. This could be attributed to hydroxyapatite crystallites in collagen fibrils which restricted the deformation of the collagen fibril network, and the load transfer of the collagen to the higher modulus mineral component of the composite.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Children’s Hospital of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, 050031, P. R. China

    Jiancang Wang

  2. John Scales Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, University College London, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, London, HA7 4LP, UK

    Chaozong Liu

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  1. Jiancang Wang
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Correspondence to Chaozong Liu.

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Wang, J., Liu, C. Biomimetic Collagen/Hydroxyapatite Composite Scaffolds: Fabrication and Characterizations. J Bionic Eng 11, 600–609 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1672-6529(14)60071-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1672-6529(14)60071-8

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