Porosity and biological properties of polyethylene glycol-conjugated collagen materials

Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) conjugated onto collagen sponges to stabilise the porous structure without deactivating the biological properties of collagen. The authors consider that these porous composite materials could function as a scaffold to organise tissue ingrowth. Different concentrations and molecular weights of activated PEGs (PEG-750 and PEG-5000) were conjugated to collagen materials (films or sponges). PEG-conjugated collagen sponge degradation by collagenase was delayed in comparison to untreated sponges. In culture, fibroblasts with a normal …