Characterization of porous collagen/hyaluronic acid scaffold modified by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide cross-linking

In order to develop a scaffolding material for tissue regeneration, porous matrices containing collagen and hyaluronic acid were fabricated by freeze drying at -20°C, -70°C or -196°C. The fabricated porous membranes were cross-linked using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) in a range of 1-100mM concentrations for enhancing mechanical stability of the composite matrix. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) views of the matrices demonstrated that the matrices obtained before cross-linking process had interconnected pores with mean diameters of 40, 90 or 230 μm and porosity of 58-66% according to the freezing temperature, and also the porous structures after cross-linking process were retained. The swelling test and IR spectroscopic measurement of different cross-linked membranes were carried out as a measure of the extent of cross-linking. The swelling behavior of cross-linked membranes showed no significant differences as cross-linking degree increased. FT-IR spectra showed the increase of the intensity of the absorbencies at amide bonds (1655, 1546, 1458cm^-1) compared to that of CH bond (2930 cm^-1). In enzymatic degradation test, EDC treated membranes showed significant enhancement of the resistance to collagenase activity in comparison with 0.625% glutaraldehyde treated membranes. In cytotoxicity test using L929 fibroblastic cells, the EDC-cross-linked membranes demonstrated no significant toxicity.