Preparation of Novel Collagen Sponges Using an Ice Particulate Template

A new type of collagen sponge was prepared as a tissue engineering scaffold using ice particulates as a template. The sponge has a hierarchical structure of large open pores on the top surface and interconnected small pores in the inner bulk body. The shape, size, and density of the surface large pores were determined by the ice particulates that were used as the template while the interconnected small pores were determined by the freezing temperature. The open and interconnected porous structure of the new collagen sponge facilitated cell seeding, cell penetration, and distribution throughout the scaffold, and accelerated cell proliferation and regeneration of new tissue. These ice particulate templates could be used to create open and interconnected porous scaffold structures.