Abstract
Collagen is a principal protein of connective tissue and recently interested as a biomaterial. Most of connective tissues exist as a membrane like structure in living body such as skin, blood vessel, cornea, basement membrane and so on. Collagen has two functions in vivo, that is, physical one supporting body and biological one controlling interaction with cells. Understanding biological property of collagen as well as its biochemistry becomes very important when applying it as a biomaterial.
Major antigenic determinant of collagen locates in telopeptides of the molecule though collagen is a poor antigen. Pepsin removes telopeptides and produces Atelocollagen which is much less antigenic than normal collagen.
Higher order structure (fibril structure) of collagen relates to expression of its biological activity in collagen-cell interaction. Platelet and fibroblast recognize collagen fibril structure. Chemical modification of collagen is useful to control collagen-cell interaction. Collagen isotypes must be considered in applying collagen to biomaterial. Collagen would be a important substratum of hybrid organs in which cells are incorporated. Biological property of collagen as a biomaterial is unique, which cannot be seen in synthetic polymers.
