A method for the production of atelopeptide collagen - fibers and the form body

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURECollagen, available from domestic animals, isfreed of noncollagen proteins and glycoproteins, glycoas-aminoglycans and lipids by treatment including enzymaticallytreating with a proteolytic enzyme to provide a productwhich is soluble in dilute acidic aqueous solutions (colla-gen in solution--CIS). The collagen in solution is thentreated according to a specific regimen (under conditionswhere the collagen in solution slowly comes out of solutionwhile exposed to mild shear forces) resulting in the forma-tion of a fibrous precipitate composed of regularly orderedfibers of collagen having a natural appearing ropelikestructure. These resulting aggregates are referred to asnative fibrous micropolymers (NFM). Once the regimen orprocedure is completed, and the fiber mass has been formed,the NFM may be freed of salt, taken up in a different solu-tion or modified. For example, cross links may then beintroduced to stabilize the fibers. The products find wideuse as packing, membranes, fibers, bags, supports, integu-ments, and ate especially suitable for biologic implantationor application.