The physical properties of a fibrillar fibronectin-fibrinogen material with potential use in tissue engineering |
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| Authors: | S Underwood A Afoke R A Brown A J MacLeod P Dunnill |
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| Institution: | The Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC?1E 7JE,
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| Abstract: | Previous work has shown that orientated fibrous fibronectin-based materials can be useful in tissue repair and tissue engineering. The aim here was to characterise the basic material properties of a comparable orientated fibronectin-rich aggregate which is amenable to large scale production. Fine protein cables, diameter 150–200?μm, consisting of both fibronectin and fibrinogen in an approximately 2:1 molar ratio may be drawn from a cryoprecipitate-derived protein solution. The composition of the cables was found to depend on the ratio of the two proteins in the starting solution. The cable formation was associated with a reduction in the pH of the solution to between 4.0 and 4.5. Scanning electron microscopy of the cables showed that each one was composed of micron-diameter fibrils giving the material ultrastructural orientation. The cables possess moderate tensile strength (61?N/mm2) and displayed hygroscopic properties. Due to their natural composition, strict fibre alignment and the cell adhesive properties of fibronectin these cables form an effective template to orientate cells during tissue repair. Their properties and method of formation show promise for the scale-up of production. |
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