Nanostructural Organization of Naturally Occurring Composites—Part I: Silica-Collagen-Based Biocomposites
Figure 6
Rod-like collagen-silica-based biomaterial derived in vitro (a) shows morphological similarity to M. chuni basal spicule (a, left). SEM image (b): nanoparticles of amorphous silica deposited in vitro from silicic acid solution on sponge collagen fibrils replicate the nanostructure of glass sponge spicules (Figure 2(e)). SEM micrograph (c) of the surface of silica-collagen hybrid material after 14 days of cultivation of human mesenchymal stem cells, which shows high biocompatibility on this substrate.
