ISSN:
0021-9304
Keywords:
type I
;
orientation
;
assembly
;
order
;
implant
;
phase transition
;
lyotropic
;
rat
;
Chemistry
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Medicine
,
Technology
Notes:
Acid extracts of rat tail tendon were subjected to reverse dialysis against 0.5% PEG at 4°C in an attempt to induce liquid crystallization. After 48 h, gel and fibril formation were initiated by continuing dialysis at 20°C against the same PEG solution adjusted to pH 7.4. The inclusion of calcium- or magnesium chloride (final concentration 0.3-33 mM) in the collagen solution before dialysis resulted in strongly birefringent gels that showed a progressive rotation of the slow axis of birefringence with increasing distance from the lateral margin of the gel. The gels contained fibers running predominantly in the plane of the flattened gel and crossing at angles of between 55° and 90°. We suggest that liquid crystallization is responsible for this phenomenon and that it might be possible to exploit this to produce materials for tissue engineering. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 41, 185-191, 1998.
Additional Material:
9 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
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