Mechanical and Biological Performances of New Scaffolds Made of Collagen Hydrogels and Fibroin Microfibers for Vascular Tissue Engineering

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)A microstructured composite material made of collagen hydrogel (matrix) and silk fibroin microfibers (randomly oriented reinforcing fibers) is investigated in order to conjugate the mechanical resistance of fibroin with the suitable biological performance of collagen to design new scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering. Results show that fibroin microfibers and collagen fibrils have suitable interfacial adhesion, and the scaffold exhibits improved mechanical properties if compared with a pure collagen hydrogel. Furthermore, the overall biological performance is improved.12912531264Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Emerging Leaders of the Americas Program (ELAP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq