Collagen-sericin-nano-hydroxyapatite Composites for Bone Tissue Engineering

The aim of this study was to synthetize porous three-dimensional composites, similar with natural bone structure, for using it in tissue engineering. The new composites prepared by freeze-drying of composite gels consist of a mineral phase nanohydroxyapatite and an organic phase type I fibrillar collagen and silk sericin, the latter acting as a glue-like protein that serves as an adhesive, for binding the collagen fibrils and the mineral phase. The physical-chemical properties were assessed using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetry (TGA/DTG); the morphological properties were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The evaluation of the physical-chemical and morphological properties demonstrated that the new composites are promising biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.