Electrical characterisation of rapidly fabricated collagen encapsulated mesh for tissue engineering applications

Smith, Clara A. (2019) Electrical characterisation of rapidly fabricated collagen encapsulated mesh for tissue engineering applications. MSc(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This project investigated the electrical properties of acellular plastic compressed collagen reinforced by the encapsulation of a poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid) and polypropylene composite mesh. Electrical characteristics in the hydrated and dehydrated state were compared. Despite the fact that the positive healing impact of electrical stimulation has been clearly demonstrated in the literature, scientists and clinicians have failed to capitalise on its therapeutic potential to the benefit of patients with injured tissue. While much of the evidence is concerned with an externally applied electric field, the observation of piezoelectricity in many tissue types has provoked consideration of the potential physiological impact of this phenomenon. This has sparked interest into the use of piezoelectric materials in scaffolds for tissue engineering. Piezoelectric materials generate an electric field in response to mechanical deformation, and therefore, their use in biomaterials removes the requirement for an external power source for electrical stimulation.

In spite of this, the electrical properties of scaffolds frequently remain overlooked in the design and characterisation process. This study argues that electrical properties are an essential component of engineered scaffolds and should be afforded the same attention as the physical and chemical properties.
Plastic compression was used to fabricate the 3D scaffold. The piezoelectric response and dielectric properties were then characterised. A piezoelectric response was observed in the dehydrated state, confirming that plastic compressed collagen retains the piezoelectric property of collagen, even in the presence of the non-piezoelectric composite mesh. The measured piezoelectric sensitivity was 17mV N-1.

The scaffold was able to conduct and store charge, and dielectric constants were calculated as 3939 and 16.2 at 100Hz for the hydrated and dehydrated states respectively.

• Item Type: Thesis (MSc(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Keywords: tissue engineering, piezoelectric materials, collagen hydrogels, plastic compression, dielectric, scaffolds for tissue engineering.
• Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General); R Medicine > R Medicine (General); T Technology > T Technology (General)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
• Supervisor's Name: Dahiya, Professor Ravinder
• Date of Award: 9 June 2019
• Embargo Date: 4 June 2021
• Depositing User: Dr Clara A Smith
• Unique ID: glathesis:2019-75163
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 06 Nov 2019 14:02
• Last Modified: 10 Dec 2019 12:07
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.75163
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/75163