title: Collagen fibres with improved strength for the repair of soft tissue injuries.
abstract: Our laboratory has developed a process for self-assembly of high strength collagen fibres in vitro which exhibit the characteristic D period. These fibres can be cross-linked by severe dehydration (dehydrothermal cross-linking) at elevated temperature and formulated into devices used to repair soft tissues. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dehydrothermal cross-linking time and temperature on the tensile mechanical properties of collagen fibres. The results discussed indicate that the tensile strength of reconstituted collagen fibres is optimized by cross-linking for 5 d at 110 degrees C. Tensile strength and modulus values of 91.8 and 896 MPa are reported for fibres cross-linked in this manner. High tensile strength and modulus values are especially important in developing biodegradable materials that promote healing of orthopaedic structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway 08854.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Pins
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003890:Desiccation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D013623:Tail; D013696:Temperature; D013710:Tendons / Q000737:chemistry; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014867:Water; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D014867:Water; D003094:Collagen