Highly biocompatible novel polyphenol cross-linked collagen scaffold for potential tissue engineering applications

Collagen-based biomaterials are known to be the most potential and promising materials with diverse applications in tissue engineering and regeneration, due to its excellent biocompatibility. The major drawback of collagen is its rapid degradation, which can be overcome by crosslinking methods. Polyphenols exhibit excellent antioxidant activity and antimicrobial properties. In the present work, polyphenol-treated collagen scaffold (PPCS) was prepared by treating the aqueous extract of the dried ripe fruits of Terminalia chebula with bovine collagen. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of PPCS showed highly oriented interwoven fibrillar collagenous bundles in the network form. The chemical structure modification in PPCS was demonstrated by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. Tensile property and hydrophilicity of the PPCS showed enhanced values compared to the untreated collagen (COL). The thermal properties of COL and PPC scaffolds investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, showed increased thermal decomposition and denaturation temperature values for the polyphenol crosslinked collagen. Further, the PPCS exhibited increased resistance to hydrolysis by collagenase. In vitro studies on biocompatibility showed increased fibroblast cell proliferation on PPCS. Thereby, the physico-chemical and biological properties of PPCS identify it as a promising scaffold with high biocompatibility for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.