Repair of collagen fibrils in vitro

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to determine the tensile properties of repaired collagen fibrils in vitro. Fibrils were directly isolated from rat tail tendons by stirring in distilled water. The ends of two fibrils were closed. Type I collagen solution and reconstitution buffer were deposited on the closed point of these fibrils using a microinjector. Both the ends of the repaired fibril were wound onto the tips of two microneedles several times using micromanipulators. The fibril and tips were immersed in physiological saline solution. Then, the fibril was stretched to failure by moving the one microneedle. During tensile testing, the fibril was firmly attached to the tips of the microneedles, and broken at its repair site. The maximum load of repaired fibrils was about 30% of that of intact fibrils.