Characterization and Biological Performance of Marine Sponge Collagen

Abstract

This study characterized the morphological aspects of marine collagen – spongin (SPG) extractfrom marine sponges, as well as, evaluating its in vitro and in vivo biological performance. Aplysina fulvamarine sponge was used for the SPG extraction. It was investigated the physicochemical and morphologicalproperties of SPG by using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-raydiffraction and compared to PMMA and bovine collagen. Additionally, the SPG cytotoxicity and its influenceon cell proliferation, through in vitro tests. Moreover, the in vivo biological response was investigated using an experimental model of tibial bone defect. The results demonstrated that SPG presented an irregulargranular aspect, with a composition of OH, C=O, NH, CN and an amorphous profile. Also, in vitro viabilityresults for the L929 and MC3T3 cell lines cultured with SPG extracts demonstrated normal growth incomparison to controls, except for MC3T3 viability at day 3. For in vivo analysis, using tibial bone defects inrats, SPG treated animals presented an increased rate of material resorption and higher granulation andbone formation deposition in the region of the defect, mainly after 45 days. As a conclusion, SPG wassuccessfully extracted. The in vitro and in vivo studies pointed out that SPG samples produced an increasein L929 and MC3T3 viability and improved the performance in tibial bone defects. It can be concluded thatSPG can be used as a bone graft for bone regeneration.