Process for the extraction of atelopeptide collagen from a collagenous source by microbial treatment

摘要

Bovine collagen is freed of non-collagen proteins, glycosaminoglycans and lipids by microbial treatment to yield a product, which is undenatured fibre of high tensile strength. The microbial extraction technique ensures degradation of non-collagenous components with the help of the protease combination produced, leaving the collagenous matter intact due to the absence of collagenase in the secreted enzymes. The resulting atelopeptide collagen has largely monomeric triple helical conformation. This process results in the formation of regularly ordered fibres of collagen possessing a rope-like structure. It is soluble in dilute acidic aqueous solutions. The collagen is rendered non-immunogenic by the removal of certain terminal peptide chains. The non-cytotoxic fibres can be fabricated into various physical forms for biomedical applications.