Advances in Collagen-based Tissue Engineering - Natural Polymers, Biopolymers, Biomaterials, and Their Composites, Blends, and IPNs - page 211

Figure 4. Myclomeningocele covered by substitute of dura mater.
Figure 5. The child after closured by collagen abdominal wall defect.
After implantation as dural substitute, collagen gradually degrades and cells syn-
thesize their own dura mater. The non-degradable PET mesh remains in organism as
unnecessary ballast. It is very important that collagen biomaterials can be effectively
cross-linked and simultaneously sterilized by radiation technique, which does not pro-
duce toxic by-products detrimental to wound healing.
Modified collagen hydrogels first appeared to be promising for skin. Unfortunate-
ly, their extensive contraction and their poor mechanical properties constituted major
disadvantages toward their utilization as permanent graft. Recently, it has been shown
that concentrated collagen hydrogels can be considered to be new candidates for der-
mal substitution because they are easy to handle, do not contract drastically, favor cell
growth and can be quickly integrated in vivo (Helary et al., 2010; Yunoki et al., 2010).
the effect Cross-linking on Properties of scaffolds
In collaboration with research workers from Laval University, Quebec, Canada
we have obtained very interesting results that show for the first time that activated
poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs) can be grafted onto collagen using radiation method
(Doillon et al., 1994, 1999). Collagen was extracted from adult bovine hide using
a series of acid dispersions and salt precipitations. In specific experimental condi-
tions, in vivo tissue ingrowth was observed within a stable porous structure. It