The molecular organization of collagen and its role in determining the biophysical properties of the connective tissues 1

Abstract

Crosslinking of collagen is a prerequisite for the collagen fibers to withstand the physical stresses to which they are exposed. Significant progress has been made in understanding the functional groups on the molecule which are involved in the formation of crosslinks. Chemical agents, in particular bifunctional aldehydes such as glutaraldehyde, have found applications in the area of bioprostheses. They increase the resistance of collagen to biological degradation while increasing its mechanical resistance and decreasing its immunogenicity. It is to be expected that our increasing understanding of the molecular structure of collagen will allow us to further modulate its process of biosynthesis and turnover as well as to benefit from the use of chemically modified collagen fibers in the development of novel bioprostheses.