Type I collagen-TiO2 aerogel based biocomposites

• Published in: Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 933 - 936
• Main Authors: Baia, L, Baia, M, Danciu, V, Albu, M G, Cosoveanu, V, Iordachescu, D, Trandafirb, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-04-2008
• ISSN: 1454-4164

Composites based on type I collagen and TiO2 have been prepared by liophylisation. Structural and morphological analyses have been performed by means of FT-Raman, FT-IR and porosimetry measurements in order to find the influence of the TiO2 on the collagen structure. The structural information derived from the Raman spectra analysis clearly proof the existence of titania structural units inside the porous composites, but only for the highest TiO2 content (12 wt%). The average pores diameter and the pores density of the lyophilised samples were determined and a relationship with the titania content has been found. The fingerprint features of all FT-IR spectra are specific to the type I collagen and their close analysis revealed conformational changes of the collagen proteins caused by the TiO2 addition, however, the integrity of the triple helicity was found to be unaltered. In vitro tests performed on fibroblast (FB) and osteoblast (OB) cells culture have revealed a very good biocompatibility of the composites, especially in the case of the 12 wt% TiO2 containing sample.