Tailoring Physicochemical and Biological Properties of <scp>PVA</scp> / <scp>PEG</scp> /Collagen Scaffolds via Freeze–Thaw Crosslinking for Tissue Engineering Applications

ABSTRACT This study investigates the influence of freeze thaw cycles and collagen incorporation on the intrinsic properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) scaffolds. The scaffolds were fabricated using varying freeze thaw cycles (0, 2, 4, and 6) and collagen was added to enhance the biocompatibility. The variation in freeze thaw cycles significantly impacted the porosity of the scaffold which in turn affects the rate of degradation, rheology and its mechanical property. Notably, with increase in number of cycles the compressive modulus of PVA/PEG/Collagen scaffold increased from 17.74 ± 5.02 MPa (cycle 0) to 25 ± 5.14 MPa (cycle 6). Rheological study indicated that cycle 6 has highest viscosity and elasticity which indicates the enhanced interaction of molecules of PVA and strong hydrogen bonding as the number of cycles increases. Porosity and swelling studies demonstrated that scaffolds from cycle 4 retained optimal water content and structural integrity leading to improved shape recovery. Collagen incorporation enhanced cell viability maintaining values above 70% up to cycle 4. These findings suggest that PVA/PEG scaffolds with collagen, particularly at cycle 4 offered promising mechanical and biological characterizations suitable for tissue engineering applications.