Fabrication of avian eggshell membrane derived dispersed collagen hydrogels for potential bone regeneration

Tissue engineering is emerging as an effective and alternate strategy for healing the impaired bones. This study reports the development of potential and novel bone tissue regenerating matrices from the avian eggshell membrane derived collagen dispersed in poly-(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The concentration of the aqueous collagen dispersions within the PVA solution were varied from 0.5 % to 2 %(w/V); and the sols were subjected to varying freeze-thaw cycles to achieve gelation; leading to the fabrication of hydrogel matrices. The developed hydrogels were investigated for their physico-chemical characteristics through the ATR-FTIR, XRD, FESEM and biocompatibility measurements. The ATR-FTIR results showed the presence of amide A, amide I and hydroxyl groups; which were further reinstated by the XRD studies. The morphological and topological analysis of the different hydrogel groups was made through FESEM. It comprised of the measurements of pore dimensions ranging (3.98 +/- 1.84 mu m to 9.24 +/- 5.55 mu m), percentage porosity (47 %-97 %), and average surface roughness (21-39 mu m); thus, indicating them to be analogous support systems for bone tissue regeneration. Further, L929 mouse fibroblasts grown over these support systems showed excellent cell viability, thus hinting towards its competitive features and application towards remedial bone regeneration.