Ca. Scotchford et al., OSTEOBLAST RESPONSES TO COLLAGEN-PVA BIOARTIFICIAL POLYMERS IN-VITRO - THE EFFECTS OF CROSS-LINKING METHOD AND COLLAGEN CONTENT, Biomaterials, 19(1-3), 1998, pp. 1-11
A range of 'bioartificial' collagen/poly(vinyl alcohol) blends have be
en produced, cast as films and cross-linked using either glutaraldehyd
e or a dehydrothermal treatment (DHT). Films were used as substrates f
or the culture of osteoblast-like cells. The attachment, adhesion and
proliferative responses of these cells to the range of films were exam
ined using proliferation assays, light, electron and confocal microsco
py. There was an inverse relationship between collagen content of glua
taraldehyde cross-linked films and the extent of cell proliferation on
them. A cytotoxicity assay demonstrated no toxic effect related to in
creasing collagen content. The greatest differences in cell responses
observed were associated with the choice of cross-linking method. Film
s cross-linked with glutaraldehyde showed variation related to collage
n content in cell adhesion, proliferation and morphology. Such differe
nces were not apparent with the DHT cross-linked films. Collagen/PVA '
bioartificial' films can be dehydrothermally cross-linked to increase
biological stability and reduce water solubility. The method of cross-
linking employed is the greater influence in determining osteoblast co
mpatibility with these materials. The DHT cross-linking method is a pr
eferable alternative to the use of glutaraldehyde. Collagen/PVA bioart
ificial films cross-linked by the DHT method have shown potential for
biocompatibility with osteoblasts. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Scie
nce Ltd. All rights reserved.