Date of Graduation
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Dr. Younghye Song
Abstract
Collagen type I is the most abundant protein in the extracellular matrix and is a commonly used biomaterial in tissue repair applications. Currently, although autografts are considered the gold standard in repairing severe tissue injuries, they are limited in donor site availability and result in a secondary surgical site. Allografts and xenografts target these challenges but lack in graft customization and have an increased risk for immune rejection. Collagen I hydrogels are a rapidly growing research area in tissue repair due to the ability to mimic native extracellular matrices but often have poor mechanical properties that inhibit their use in clinical applications. Additionally, hydrogels require a cold, aqueous storage environment and can degrade before use. Therefore, there is a need for a material that can withstand mechanical forces during surgical implantation, remain functional for tissue repair after long-term storage, limits inflammation, and is customizable in shape and size for patient-specific injury geometries. Cellulose nanofibers are an emerging novel material with the potential to improve the mechanical strength of hydrogels due to their superior tensile strength, biocompatibility, biodegradability and sustainable sourcing. By incorporating nanocellulose into a collagen matrix, the composite material retains benefits of collagen I while adopting the mechanical characteristics of cellulose nanofibers, without compromising cell viability. Optimizing a composite fabrication platform with a rehydratable membrane further addresses the need for a clinically translatable biomaterial. This study focuses on developing a collagen cellulose nanofiber composite membrane that is stored dry and can easily be rehydrated prior to surgical implantation. Visualizing microarchitecture, analyzing the swelling and degradation behavior, and investigating the mechanical properties of composite 2 membranes suggests that this tunable platform could be a viable material for various tissue repair applications. Preliminary findings on examining immune response and surgical handleability of membranes provide a foundation for future biomaterial studies.
Keywords
collagen; cellulose nanofibers; tissue repair; biomaterials
Citation
Norris, T. (2026). Rehydratable Collagen-Cellulose Nanofiber (CNF) Membranes for Tissue Repair. Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/bmeguht/171
