Study of the Collagen Study of the Collagen Mineralization in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) Medium

Mineralized collagen is an organic–inorganic composite material formed by a biopolymer and a calcium phosphate-based ceramic phase. The formation of hard connective tissues, such as bone, involves the deposition of calcium phosphate in a collagenous matrix, which forms a common building block for these tissues. The obtention of biomaterials by in vitro mineralization, has been investigated as an alternative for the development of methods that mimic biological systems. Furthermore, the understanding of the mechanism of collagen mineralization is of great significance for the design of materials for hard tissue regeneration and may also have important implications for the treatment of mi-neralization related diseases. In this work, was explored the viability of in vitro mineralization of the collagen by simulated body fluid (SBF) medium. The star-ting material was previously characterized in terms of its morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), its structural features by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and its surface charge by zeta potential measurements. The mineralization ability of collagen fibers with SBF was investigated by SEM and FTIR as a function of immersion time in SBF, as well as pH monitoring during the time of the test. The results showed evidence of mineralization on surface of the collagen and presence of the precursor phase of the biological apatite, proving the existence of a suitable microenvironment for the nucleation and maturation of calcium phosphate.