Dendrimer-Functionalized Metal Oxide Nanoparticle-Mediated Self-Assembled Collagen Scaffold for Skin Regenerative Application: Function of Metal in Metal Oxides.

Functionalized metal oxide nanoparticles cross-linked collagen scaffolds are widely used in skin regenerative applications because of their enhanced physicochemical and biocompatibility properties. From the safety clinical trials point of view, there are no reports that have compared the effects of functionalized metal oxide nanoparticles mediated collagen scaffolds for in vivo skin regenerative applications. In this work, triethoxysilane-poly (amido amine) dendrimer generation 3 (TES-PAMAM-G3 or G3)-functionalized spherical shape metal oxide nanoparticles (MO NPs: ZnO, TiO2, Fe3O4, CeO2, and SiO2, size: 12-25 nm) cross-linked collagen scaffolds were prepared by using a self-assembly method. Triple helical conformation, pore size, mechanical strength, and in vitro cell viability of MO-TES-PAMAM-G3-collagen scaffolds were studied through different methods. The in vivo skin regenerative proficiency of MO-TES-PAMAM-G3-collagen scaffolds was analyzed by implanting the scaffold on wounds in Wistar albino rats. The results demonstrated that MO-TES-PAMAM-G3-collagen scaffold showed superior skin regeneration properties than other scaffolds. The skin regenerative efficiency of MO NPs followed the order ZnO > TiO2 > CeO2 > SiO2 > Fe3O4 NPs. This result can be attributed to higher mechanical strength, cell viability, and better antibacterial activity of ZnO-TES-PAMAM-G3-collagen scaffold that leads to accelerate the skin regenerative properties in comparison to other metal oxide based collagen scaffolds.