Polymerized structure and improved physical and biochemical material properties of carboxymethyl dextran-conjugated collagen.

Pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC) was conjugated with carboxymethyl dextran (CMD) using cyanogen bromide to obtain a PSC-CMD film having improved physical properties, physiological properties, and cell affinity. The conjugation was confirmed by the loss of the alpha- and beta-subunit chains and the polymerized band on SDS-PAGE, and by a decrease in the isoelectric point to 3.2. PSC-CMD had a large polymerized structure with the 6 PSC and 228 CMD molecules. PSC-CMD was readily soluble in water, reconstructed a matrix with a less-ordered structure and a characteristic morphological shape, and lost platelet aggregation-inducing ability. The PSC-CMD film, cross-linked by ultraviolet irradiation, exhibited reduced solubility, moderate water vapor permeability, and increased flexibility. PSC-CMD coatings exhibited good cell attachment and growth for fibroblasts and vein endothrical cells.