Preparation and characterization of collagen/silica composite scaffolds for peripheral nerve regeneration

To improve the regeneration of peripheral nerve system, the silica nanoparticles of various concentrations were synthesized in collagen solution and formed to silica incorporated porous collagen structures. We examined various properties such as morphology, chemical composition, wettability, porosity, swelling ratio and degradation behavior of the composite scaffolds. Schwann cells culture was used to evaluate the effect of the collagen/silica composite materials on nerve regeneration. And the content of DNA in Schwann cells was measured. We ascertained that the silica nanoparticles could be incorporated into collagen scaffolds successfully. The incorporation of silica nanoparticles could increase the hydrophobicity, decrease porosity, swelling ratio and degradation rate of the collagen scaffolds. Further, the attachment and proliferation of Schwann cells on the silica incorporated porous collagen patch was much better than that of the collagen patch as control. The number and DNA contents of the cells on the composite scaffolds increased firstly and then decreased with the increment of nanoparticles concentration. It was optimal to combine silica of 25 μg/mL for achieving best cell attachment and proliferation with the highest DNA contents compared with other samples. These results indicate that silica incorporated porous collagen patch may be potentially used as implanted scaffold materials for the peripheral nerve regeneration.