Hydrogels are a versatile tool for a multitude of applications in biomedical research and clinical practice. Especially collagen and fibrin hydrogels are distinguished by their excellent biocompatibility, natural capacity for cell adhesion and low immunogenicity. In many ways, collagen and fibrin represent an ideal biomaterial, as they can serve as a scaffold for tissue regeneration and promote the migration of cells, as well as the ingrowth of tissues. On the other hand, pure collagen and fibrin materials are marked by poor mechanical properties and rapid degradation, which limits their use in practice. This paper will review methods of modification of natural collagen and fibrin materials to next-generation materials with enhanced stability. A special focus is placed on biomedical products from fibrin and collagen already on the market. In addition, recent research on the in vivo applications of collagen and fibrin-based materials will be showcased.
Proteins derived from the natural extracellular matrix like collagen or gelatin are common in clinical research, where they are prized for their biocompatibility and bioactivity. Cells are able to adhere, grow and remodel scaffolds based on these materials. Usually, collagen and gelatin are sourced from animal material, risking pathogenic transmission and inconsistent batch-to-batch product quality. A recombinant production in yeast circumvents these disadvantages by ensuring production with a reproducible quality in animal-component-free media. A gelatin mimetic protein, based on the alpha chain of human collagen I, was cloned in Pichia pastoris under the control of the methanol-inducible alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter. A producing clone was selected and cultivated at the 30 L scale. The protein was secreted into the cultivation medium and the final yield was 3.4 g·L−1. Purification of the target was performed directly from the cell-free medium by size exclusion chromatography. The gelatin mimetic protein was tested in cell culture for biocompatibility and for promoting cell adhesion. It supported cell growth and its performance was indistinguishable from animal-derived gelatin. The gelatin-mimetic protein represents a swift strategy to produce recombinant and human-based extracellular matrix proteins for various biomedical applications.
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