Hydration dynamics of collagen/PVA composites: Thermoporometric and impedance analysis

Porous scaffolds like collagen/PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) composites have potential applications in the field of biomedical engineering. The pore properties and electrical behavior of collagen/PVA composite system were investigated by thermoporometry technique and electrochemical impedance analysis. The porous composites were crosslinked by less cytotoxic genipin due to the versatility in the crosslinking reactivity between the amino groups. Different physicochemical properties like rheological behavior, thermal stability of the protein and morphological changes of the composites were investigated as a function of PVA concentration by viscosity profile, temperature dependant circular dichroic spectroscopic studies, scanning electron microscopy. Bound water constrained within the pores of collagen/PVA composites seems to provide signatures for changes induced by amount of additives on the pore diameter and distribution in composite molecules. Impedance measurements of the composites in the frequency range of 10−2 to 105 Hz reveal that concentration of the additive and crosslinking significantly influence the permittivity of the composites. The tunable physicochemical properties help to gain insight for regulating cellular events for tissue and organ regeneration.