Abstract

Biomimetic Collagen-Like Hydrogels: From In Vitro Testing to Regenerative Medicine

May Griffith, Professor, University of Montreal

The body’s extracellular matrix (ECM) modulates both organ development and its repair and regeneration. Collagen is a major component of the ECM and we have shown that a recombinantly produced version of human collagen in form of cell-free hydrogel implants successfully promoted regeneration of the human cornea in clinical trials. These implants were fabricated by 3D moulding. However, recombinant human collagen like native collagen is a large protein and not easily processed for fabrication into implants. We have therefore developed collagen-like peptide-based analogs. These analogs can also be moulded into implants and their performance in pre-clinical large animal models shows equivalence in function. However, they are readily synthesized, easy to functionalize chemically as well as physically, the latter by micro- and nano-patterning.