Electrospinning of animal-free derived collagen-like protein: Development and characterization of VECOLLAN®- nanofibers for biomedical applications

This study investigates the potential of VECOLLAN®, a recombinant, novel, non-animal-derived collagen-like protein, for use in electrospinning applications relevant to biomedical and drug delivery sectors. Given the limitations of animal-derived collagens, including immunogenicity and variability, VECOLLAN® offers a promising alternative due to its biotechnological production and non-immunogenic, non-allergenic, and non-inflammatory properties. We optimized the electrospinning parameters for VECOLLAN® and examined the effects of a novel coaxial crosslinking approach on the dissolution and disintegration behaviors of the resultant fibers. Our results demonstrate that VECOLLAN®-based fibers can achieve varying degrees of water insolubility, influenced by crosslinker concentration and type of crosslinker. Additionally, the fibers exhibit distinct swelling behaviors. With the addition of hyaluronic acid, the water absorption capacity could be increased. We investigated the distribution of silver nanoparticles within the fibers, confirming the homogeneity of the coaxial electrospinning process. Mechanical tests revealed that increased crosslinker concentrations lead to greater stability and rigidity, while elastin incorporation improved elongation properties. This study lays the groundwork for developing electrospun fibers made from a non-animal-derived collagen-like protein, highlighting the potential for applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering. Future research should focus on assessing the biocompatibility of these fibers further to explore their utility as drug carriers or cell scaffolds. Overall, our findings underscore the promising properties of VECOLLAN®-based fibers in advancing innovative solutions in the biomedical and drug delivery sectors.