Infection-resistant MRI-visible scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

Bioimpacts. 2016;6(2):111-5. doi: 10.15171/bi.2016.16. Epub 2016 Jul 15.

Abstract

Tissue engineering utilizes porous scaffolds as template to guide the new tissue growth. Clinical application of scaffolding biomaterials is hindered by implant-associated infection and impaired in vivo visibility of construct in biomedical imaging modalities. We recently demonstrated the use of a bioengineered type I collagen patch to repair damaged myocardium. By incorporating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles into this patch, here, we developed an MRI-visible scaffold. Moreover, the embedded nanoparticles impeded the growth of Salmonella bacteria in the patch. Conferring anti-infection and MRI-visible activities to the engineered scaffolds can improve their clinical outcomes and reduce the morbidity/mortality of biomaterial-based regenerative therapies.

Keywords: Antibacterial properties; Collagen scaffold; Magnetic resonance imaging; SPION; Superparamagnetic iron oxide; Tissue engineering; nanoparticles.