Animal‐Free Derived Collagen‐Like Protein Based Electrospun Nanofibers for Biomedical Applications: Cell Interactions Studies

Biocompatibility of biomaterials is essential for their application in the biomedical field, particularly in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems. This study focuses on VECOLLAN, a recombinant, non-animal-derived collagen-like protein (CLP), which exhibits excellent biocompatibility while promoting in vitro cell proliferation and wound healing. We previously optimized electrospinning parameters and employed a coaxial crosslinking approach to produce VECOLLAN-based fibers with tunable dissolution, swelling behavior, and elasticity suitable for biomedical applications. The current study aims to assess the compatibility of these fibers with cells (NIH/3T3), investigate chemical leachables from three different formulations of DMTMM cross-linked VECOLLAN-fibers (according to ISO 10993-18), and conduct spectroscopic analysis to confirm crosslinking efficacy. Results indicate that most CLP-based nonwoven mats maintained cell viability above the 70% safety threshold as per ISO-10993-5. The sample with a CLP:DMTMM ratio of 1:0.1 demonstrated the most favorable cell compatibility and effective crosslinking. While the coaxial crosslinking method showed efficiency, residual crosslinker molecules and unexpected derivatives are identified. Spectroscopic investigations gave hints of successful crosslinking, although a direct correlation between crosslinker concentration and spectral band intensity is not established. Future research shall explore additional crosslinkers and cell types to further investigate the biocompatibility and potential applications of VECOLLAN-based nonwoven mats.