Collagen Fibril Response to Strain in Scaffolds from Ovine Forestomach for Tissue Engineering

Scaffold biomaterials are typically applied surgically as reinforcement for weakened or damaged tissue, acting as substrates on which healing tissue can grow. Natural extracellular matrix (ECM) materials consisting mainly of collagen are often used for this purpose, but are anisotropic. Ovine forestomach matrix (OFM) ECM was exposed to increasing strain and synchrotron-based SAXS diffraction patterns and revealed that the collagen fibrils within underwent changes in orientation, orientation index (a measure of isotropy), and extension. Response to the strain depended on the direction the collagen fibrils were oriented. When the ECM was stretched in the direction of collagen fibril orientation, the fibrils become more oriented and begin to take up the strain immediately (as shown by the increased -spacing). Stretch applied perpendicular to dominant fibril direction caused the fibrils to initially become less oriented as they were pulled away from the original direction, and less force was initially transmitted along the length of the fibrils (i.e., the -spacing changed less). SAXS analysis of OFM and the starting raw tissue showed there is no difference in the structural arrangement of the collagen fibrils. Understanding the directional structural response of these materials under strain may influence how surgeons select and place the materials in use.