Magnetic Alignment of Type I Collagen as a Method for Altering Tensile Mechanical Properties

To date, ligament and tendon replacements largely utilize autograft/allograft transplantation, although the use of tissue engineered materials remain a promising solution [10]. The development of an engineered solution may depend on the choice of scaffold materials with optimal fiber alignment. Type I collagen is an abundant extracellular matrix component in musculoskeletal tissues. The controlled alignment of type I collagen for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications enables the fabrication of unique scaffolds that emulate the ultrastructure of their native counterparts. Moreover, the alignment of type I collagen has become a common technique to manipulate mechanical properties of tissue constructs and the biological response of embedded cells [1,2]. It is additionally important to develop noninvasive methods to align collagen structures while maintaining inherent structural integrity and biological activity.