Nonthrombogenic Collagen. Contribution of Individual Processing Steps

摘要

Previously we have shown that collagen can be converted into a non-platelet-aggregating variant by precipitation with chondroitin 6-sulfate, a glycosaminoglycan (GAG), at pH 3.2. This in vitro finding has led to development in the laboratory of two processes for fabrication of experimental blood-compatible tubing. In order to establish the reproducibility of hematological properties of the fabricated tubes the authors undertook a detailed study of the individual process steps by which they convert collagen to its thromboresistant variant. The authors find that chondroithin 6-sulfate, and possibly also crosslinking with glutaraldehyde, function by interfering with swelling/deswelling equilibria of collagen particles in aqueous media.