title: The process of EDC-NHS Cross-linking of reconstituted collagen fibres increases collagen fibrillar order and alignment.
abstract: We describe the production of collagen fibre bundles through a multi-strand, semi-continuous extrusion process. Cross-linking using an EDC (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide), NHS (N-hydroxysuccinimide) combination was considered. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy focused on how cross-linking affected the collagen fibrillar structure. In the cross-linked fibres, a clear fibrillar structure comparable to native collagen was observed which was not observed in the non-cross-linked fibre. The amide III doublet in the Raman spectra provided additional evidence of alignment in the cross-linked fibres. Raman spectroscopy also indicated no residual polyethylene glycol (from the fibre forming buffer) or water in any of the fibres.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.affiliation: Tigenix Ltd, Byron House, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghose
authors.affiliation: Tigenix Ltd, Byron House, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kew
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Best