Stiffness Variation of 3D Collagen Networks by Surface Functionalization of Network Fibrils with Sulfonated Polymers
Fibrillar collagen is the most prominent protein in the mammalian extracellular matrix. Therefore, it is also widely used for cell culture research and clinical therapy as a biomimetic 3D scaffold. Charged biopolymers, such as sulfated glycosaminoglycans, occur in vivo in close contact with collagen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Gels |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/7/4/266 |
| _version_ | 1797504355934404608 |
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| author | Philipp Riedl Maria Schricker Tilo Pompe |
| author_facet | Philipp Riedl Maria Schricker Tilo Pompe |
| author_sort | Philipp Riedl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fibrillar collagen is the most prominent protein in the mammalian extracellular matrix. Therefore, it is also widely used for cell culture research and clinical therapy as a biomimetic 3D scaffold. Charged biopolymers, such as sulfated glycosaminoglycans, occur in vivo in close contact with collagen fibrils, affecting many functional properties such as mechanics and binding of growth factors. For in vitro application, the functions of sulfated biopolymer decorations of fibrillar collagen materials are hardly understood. Herein, we report new results on the stiffness dependence of 3D collagen I networks by surface functionalization of the network fibrils with synthetic sulfonated polymers, namely, poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(vinyl sulfonate) (PVS). A non-monotonic stiffness dependence on the amount of adsorbed polymer was found for both polymers. The stiffness dependence correlated to a transition from mono- to multilayer adsorption of sulfonated polymers on the fibrils, which was most prominent for PVS. PVS mono- and multilayers caused a network stiffness change by a factor of 0.3 and 2, respectively. A charge-dependent weakening of intrafibrillar salt bridges by the adsorbed sulfonated polymers leading to fibrillar softening is discussed as the mechanism for the stiffness decrease in the monolayer regime. In contrast, multilayer adsorption can be assumed to induce interfibrillar bridging and an increase in network stiffness. Our in vitro results have a strong implication on in vivo characteristics of fibrillar collagen I, as sulfated glycosaminoglycans frequently attach to collagen fibrils in various tissues, calling for an up to now overlooked impact on matrix and tendon mechanics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:03:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-947ac6098b4c48b5a74d83988b3b1a3a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:03:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj.art-947ac6098b4c48b5a74d83988b3b1a3a2023-11-23T08:28:48ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612021-12-017426610.3390/gels7040266Stiffness Variation of 3D Collagen Networks by Surface Functionalization of Network Fibrils with Sulfonated PolymersPhilipp Riedl0Maria Schricker1Tilo Pompe2Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyInstitute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyInstitute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, GermanyFibrillar collagen is the most prominent protein in the mammalian extracellular matrix. Therefore, it is also widely used for cell culture research and clinical therapy as a biomimetic 3D scaffold. Charged biopolymers, such as sulfated glycosaminoglycans, occur in vivo in close contact with collagen fibrils, affecting many functional properties such as mechanics and binding of growth factors. For in vitro application, the functions of sulfated biopolymer decorations of fibrillar collagen materials are hardly understood. Herein, we report new results on the stiffness dependence of 3D collagen I networks by surface functionalization of the network fibrils with synthetic sulfonated polymers, namely, poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(vinyl sulfonate) (PVS). A non-monotonic stiffness dependence on the amount of adsorbed polymer was found for both polymers. The stiffness dependence correlated to a transition from mono- to multilayer adsorption of sulfonated polymers on the fibrils, which was most prominent for PVS. PVS mono- and multilayers caused a network stiffness change by a factor of 0.3 and 2, respectively. A charge-dependent weakening of intrafibrillar salt bridges by the adsorbed sulfonated polymers leading to fibrillar softening is discussed as the mechanism for the stiffness decrease in the monolayer regime. In contrast, multilayer adsorption can be assumed to induce interfibrillar bridging and an increase in network stiffness. Our in vitro results have a strong implication on in vivo characteristics of fibrillar collagen I, as sulfated glycosaminoglycans frequently attach to collagen fibrils in various tissues, calling for an up to now overlooked impact on matrix and tendon mechanics.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/7/4/266collagennetwork mechanicssulfonated polymers |
| spellingShingle | Philipp Riedl Maria Schricker Tilo Pompe Stiffness Variation of 3D Collagen Networks by Surface Functionalization of Network Fibrils with Sulfonated Polymers Gels collagen network mechanics sulfonated polymers |
| title | Stiffness Variation of 3D Collagen Networks by Surface Functionalization of Network Fibrils with Sulfonated Polymers |
| title_full | Stiffness Variation of 3D Collagen Networks by Surface Functionalization of Network Fibrils with Sulfonated Polymers |
| title_fullStr | Stiffness Variation of 3D Collagen Networks by Surface Functionalization of Network Fibrils with Sulfonated Polymers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stiffness Variation of 3D Collagen Networks by Surface Functionalization of Network Fibrils with Sulfonated Polymers |
| title_short | Stiffness Variation of 3D Collagen Networks by Surface Functionalization of Network Fibrils with Sulfonated Polymers |
| title_sort | stiffness variation of 3d collagen networks by surface functionalization of network fibrils with sulfonated polymers |
| topic | collagen network mechanics sulfonated polymers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/7/4/266 |
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