Abstract
In order to test the utility as a biomedical material, we prepared the film shaped polyethylene-collagen (proteinase treated bovine collagen) and polyvinyl-alcohol-collagen grafted copolymers using Okamura and Hino's method (namely, polymerization achieved by the introduction of cross-linkages, applying electricity aid irradiation).
We examined the tissue affinity of these copolymers whether copolymers are joined with the tissue.
These films were implanted subcutaneously in rabbits and removed with the surrounding tissues after 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 weeks to be examined with microscope and scanning electron microscope.
One week after implantation, we observed that a large number of fibroblasts gathered on the surface of the grafted collagen. After three or four weeks, bridges of collagenfibrils were observed between the copolymer and rabbit tissue. These films were firmly adhered with surrounding tissues and were separable only with difficulty.
These results suggest that the plastics, grafted bovine collagen and rabbit collagen are combined to form ultramacromolecules; also, collagen plastics copolymers have very efficient affinity for tissue. From these experimental results we concluded that collagen plastics copolymers are useful as a biomedical material.
