Manufacture and Evaluation of Collagen Nanofibrils from Ground Bovine Hide Collagen

摘要

The collagen molecule is a protein with molecular weight of 300 kDa foundexclusively in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It ischaracterized by a triple helix of alpha chains. This molecule assembles into nanofibrilsand subsequently into fibers, fiber bundles and eventually tissue. Nanofibrils, which have30-50 nm diameters, may be extracted from tissue such as bovine corium by mechanicalmeans using a variety of devices. The nanofibrils are valuable as substrates and are usedin making collagen-based products in the form of dispersions and macroporousstructures. In this research, the collagen fibers are unraveled and nanofibrils recoveredusing extended ball milling in a dilute aqueous solution. Nanofirils are then recovered viarepeated washing and centrifugation. The active nanofibrils are then dispersed in dilutesolutions of weak organic acids, causing thickening and pseudoplastic behavior. Theresulting “smart” dispersions have a unique set of characteristics and can be used in avariety of environmental and biomedical applications.