| Affiliation: | 1. Orthopaedics Clinic, School of Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60020, Italy Department of Molecular Pathology and Innovative Therapies, School of Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60020, Italy;2. Orthopaedics Clinic, School of Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60020, Italy;3. Department of Molecular Pathology and Innovative Therapies, School of Medicine, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona 60020, Italy |
| Abstract: | Tendons have poor spontaneous regenerative capabilities, and complete regeneration is never achieved despite intensive remodeling. In this in vitro study, we characterized two multilamellar collagen I membranes differing in the arrangement of collagen fiber deposition (oriented vs. nonoriented) and compared their mechanical properties. Human dermal fibroblasts and tenocytes were seeded on the two membranes to evaluate the effect of fiber orientation on cell viability and cytoskeletal organization. Results demonstrate that the multilamellar collagen I membrane with oriented fibers has the better mechanical properties and affords optimum cell proliferation and adhesion. Its fiber arrangement provides an instructive pattern for cell growth and may serve to guide the alignment of cells migrating from the ends of a crushed or frayed tendon to obtain a strong, correctly structured tendon, thus providing a viable clinical option for tendon repair. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27: 826–832, 2009 |
