Aliphatic chain modification of collagen type I: development of elastomeric, compliant, and suturable scaffolds

Collagen type I is one of the most suitable natural biomaterials for constructing tissue-engineering scaffolds. Despite their biocompositional similarities to physiological tissues, these scaffolds lack host specific and matching mechanical properties. While it is possible to enhance their stiffness by cross-linking, it often compromises their abilities to expand or strain under minimal stress, that is, compliance (inverse of stiffness). Here, we report a simple, inexpensive, cross-linking- and elastin-free collagen-based material composition for developing elastomeric scaffolds that are highly compliant, soft yet strong, and suturable, therefore, clinically attractive. Our strategy utilizes room-temperature modification of collagen type I scaffolds with linear aliphatic chains of various lengths (C7–C18). In particular, dodecenylsuccinic anhydride (size: C12, DDSA) modified scaffolds elongated up to 400% of its initial length compared to only ∼20% for collagen-control within the applied tensile stress of...