Electrospun Collagen Mimicking the Reconstituted Extracellular Matrix Improves Osteoblastic Differentiation Onto Titanium Surfaces

Titanium and its alloys are the current materials to manufacture oral implants because of their excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However the increasing needs of the patients to receive fast and reliable rehabilitation have forced materials scientists to modified the surface of the materials in order to increase the rate of osseointegration and minimize the times for healing. The presence of a reconstituted extracellular matrix (ECM), constituted of proteins and polysaccharides is a key factor for healing and regeneration of the tissues. The nano-fibrous feature of ECM improves cells proliferation and addresses their phenotype. Electrospinning technique is an efficient processing method to manufacture micro- and nano-sized fibrous structures mimicking the ECM. In this work we describe a method to obtain collagen coating made of nano-fibers onto titanium for oral implant manufacturing, using electrospinning. The obtained collagen coatings showed morphology, structure and chemical composition similar to that of ECM. Moreover the stem cells cultured onto titanium samples coated with electrospun collagen showed faster osteoblastic differentiation and more efficient deposition of mineralized matrix in comparison with those onto uncoated substrates. This effect was amplified using osteogenetic media.