Clinical breakthrough: Biomimetic Scaffolds Based on Soluble Collagen for Regenerating Large Volumes of Highly Functional Tissues

Functional tissue regeneration in tissue engineering has long been an aspiration of humanity. However, conventional materials such as metal, ceramic, polymer, and decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) have not yet yielded the desired outcomes.

We have developed a collagen biomimetic material based on soluble collagen. This biomimetic material emulates the composition, structure, and function of native tissue. It possesses high strength, high affinity, high nutrient, and low antigenicity. The biomimetic material had been utilized to fabricate some implants (absorbable surgical suture, artificial tendon, hernia patch) and had demonstrated remarkable functional regeneration in animal experiments. In our previous researches, collagen surgical sutures facilitated wound healing, artificial tendons and artificial muscles (hernia patches) successfully repaired extensive defects of tendons and muscles, respectively. These successful tissue engineering endeavors enabled damaged defect to restore its biological functions and structure. Degradation of these biomimetic implants synchronized with the regeneration of the new tissues.

Based on these successful functional regenerations, the present study focuses on regeneration of rabbit sciatic nerve. This collagen biomimetic material was employed to construct an artificial nerve tube (length: 2 cm, inner diameter: 2 mm, outer diameter: 3.5 mm) to repair a 2 cm-long defect in the rabbit sciatic nerve. After 36 weeks, the newly formed functional sciatic nerve successfully bridged the damaged ends, while approximately 92% of the artificial nerve tube has degraded.

In this study, we provide an overview of the biomimetic material and its medical applications. We believe that these successful regenerations of tendon, muscle, and nerve all stem from the exceptional characteristics of this biomimetic material. We firmly believe that this collagen biomimetic material exhibits remarkable regenerative capabilities in diverse tissues. It can pave the way for the fabrication of increasingly critical artificial implants, which can be utilized to repair defects in human tissues, including artificial esophagi, tracheae, and small blood vessels. In regenerative medicine of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), the biomimetic materials can replace temperature-sensitive materials (PIPAAm) to fabricate cell sheets. This approach expedites the process, enhances cellular vitality, and consequently improves regeneration outcomes.

This material technology not only provides a revolutionary solution for clinical treatment but also paves the way for a new development direction in regenerative medicine.