Hierarchical collagen-hydroxyapatite nanostructures designed through layer-by-layer assembly of crystal-decorated fibrils.

Hierarchical collagen-hydroxyapatite nanostructures designed through layer-by-layer assembly of crystal-decorated fibrils. Biomacromolecules. 2019 Nov 11;: Authors: Colaço E, Brouri D, Aissaoui N, Cornette P, Dupres V, Domingos RF, Lambert JF, Maisonhaute E, El Kirat K, Landoulsi J Abstract A comprehensive understanding of the mechanism by which type I collagen (Col) interacts with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (Hap NPs) in aqueous solutions is a pivotal step for guiding the design of biologically relevant nanocomposites with controlled hierarchical structure. In this paper we use a variety of Hap NPs differing by their shape (rod vs platelet) and their size (~30 vs ~130 nm) and investigate their mechanism(s) of interaction with collagen. The addition of collagen to the Hap suspensions induces different effects that strongly depend on the nanoparticle type. Interestingly, the use of small rods, typically with ~30 nm of length (R30), leads to the formation of assembled collagen fibrils decorated with Hap nanocrystals which, in turn, self-assemble progressively to form larger fibrillar HapCol composite. The crystals decorating collagen provides "intrinsic" negative charges to the fibrillar objects that allows their incorporation in three-dimensional structure using layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. This offers a straightforward way to construct a collagen-based hybrid material with well-defined hierarchy under near-physiological condition...
Source: Biomacromolecules - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Biomacromolecules Source Type: research