G. Goissis et al., THE CHEMICAL PROTECTING GROUP CONCEPT APPLIED IN CROSS-LINKING OF NATURAL TISSUES WITH GLUTARALDEHYDE ACETALS, Artificial organs, 22(3), 1998, pp. 210-214
This work describes the results of the controlled crosslinking of coll
agen matrices by glutaraldehyde based on a double protection strategy,
glutaraldehyde acetals and lysine protonation due to the acidic condi
tions of acetal formation. Materials crosslinked by this approach were
characterized by thermal stability comparable to those obtained by co
nventional procedures with mechanical properties expected for bioprost
hesis manufacture and with a higher stability toward collagenase hydro
lysis. The integrity of the microfibrillar structure was confirmed by
optical and scanning electronic microscopy. The results indicate that
the glutaraldehyde acetals procedure may be of potential use for the c
rosslinking of bovine pericardium used in the manufacture of bioprosth
etic devices. Advantages may be related to the production of materials
with homogeneous crosslinking distributions, associated with better d
efinition in the nature of the chemical link that they introduce, due
to a better distribution of glutaraldehyde within the tissue matrix be
fore the crosslinking reaction is allowed to occur. As a result, mater
ials with improved biological and mechanical properties are expected.