Type I collagen-TiO2 aerogel based biocomposites

Composites based on type I collagen and TiO 2 have been prepared by liophylisation. Structural and morphological analyses have been performed by means of FT-Raman, FT-IR and porosimetry measurements in order to find the influence of the TiO 2 on the collagen structure. The structural information derived from the Raman spectra analysis clearly proof the existence of titania structural units inside the porous composites, but only for the highest TiO 2 content (12 wt%). The average pores diameter and the pores density of the lyophilised samples were determined and a relationship with the titania content has been found. The fingerprint features of all FT-IR spectra are specific to the type I collagen and their close analysis revealed conformational changes of the collagen proteins caused by the TiO 2 addition, however, the integrity of the triple helicity was found to be unaltered. In vitro tests performed on fibroblast (FB) and osteoblast (OB) cells culture have revealed a very good biocompatibility of the composites, especially in the case of the 12 wt% TiO 2 containing sample.