A Systems Approach to Study Collagen Type I Self-Assembly: Kinetics and Morphology.

Collagen type I, the main component of the extracellular matrix in vertebrates, is widely used in tissue engineering applications. This is on account that collagen molecules can self-assemble under certain conditions into 3D fibrillar hydrogels. Although there is an extensive body of literature studying collagen self-assembly, there is a lack of systematic understanding on how different experimental factors, such as pH and temperature, and their cumulative effects guide the self-assembly process.

In Vitro Mineralization of Collagen.

Collagen mineralization is a biological process in many skeletal elements in the animal kingdom. Examples of these collagen-based skeletons are the siliceous spicules of glass sponges or the intrafibrillar hydroxyapatite platelets in vertebrates. The mineralization of collagen in vitro has gained interest for two reasons: understanding the processes behind bone formation and the synthesis of scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Kinetic state diagrams for a highly asymmetric block copolymer assembled in solution.

Polymer self-assembly is used to form nanomaterials with a wide range of structures. While self-assembly of polymers in bulk has been thoroughly explored, the same process in solution remains widely used but partially unresolved, due to the formation of structures which are often kinetically trapped. In this paper we report kinetic state diagrams of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer in water by changing the solvent-switch assembly conditions.

Liquid-liquid phase separation during amphiphilic self-assembly.

The self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules in solution is a ubiquitous process in both natural and synthetic systems. The ability to effectively control the structure and properties of these systems is essential for tuning the quality of their functionality, yet the underlying mechanisms governing the transition from molecules to assemblies have not been fully resolved. Here we describe how amphiphilic self-assembly can be preceded by liquid-liquid phase separation.