Physical and mechanical properties of cross-linked type I collagen scaffolds derived from bovine, porcine, and ovine tendons.

Collagen scaffolds are often utilized in tissue engineering applications where their performance depends on physical and mechanical properties. This study investigated the effects of collagen source (bovine, porcine, and ovine tendon) on properties of collagen sponge scaffolds cross-linked with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). Scaffolds were tested for tensile and compressive properties, stability (resistance to enzymatic degradation), pore size, and swelling ratio. No significant differences in tensile modulus were observed, but ovine scaffolds had significantly greater ultimate strain, stress, and toughness relative to bovine and porcine scaffolds. No significant differences in compressive properties, pore size, or swelling ratio were observed as a function of collagen source. Ovine scaffolds were more resistant to collagenase degradation compared to bovine samples, which were more resistant than porcine scaffolds. In comparison to bovine scaffolds, ovine scaffolds performed equivalently or superiorly in all evaluations, and porcine scaffolds were equivalent in all properties except enzymatic stability. These results suggest that collagen sponges derived from bovine, porcine, and ovine tendon have similar physical and mechanical properties, and are all potentially suitable materials for various tissue engineering applications.