Acoustic Fabrication of Collagen–Fibronectin Composite Gels Accelerates Microtissue Formation

The study explored the use of ultrasound to fabricate collagen–fibronectin composite gels, demonstrating that ultrasound exposure during collagen microfibril assembly altered fiber structure and alignment, enhancing biological activity. By adding fibronectin to collagen solutions before ultrasound exposure, researchers found that ultrasound could modify fibronectin distribution within 3D hydrogels through thermal and non-thermal mechanisms, resulting in composite hydrogels that accelerated microtissue formation. This ultrasound-based technology showed promise as a non-invasive method for functionalizing biomaterials in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.