Control of collagen molecular assembly with anionic polysaccharides
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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Preparation of 3D Collagen Gels and Microchannels for the Study of 3D Interactions In Vivo
Published on: May 9, 2016
Yoshihiro Nomura1, Yasuhiro Ishii, Koji Takahashi
1Scleroprotein and Leather Research Institute, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan. ny318@cc.tuat.ac.jp
Abstract:
The effect of adding a polyanionic saccharide (alginic acid, pectic acid, agarose, kappa-carragenan or lambda-carragenan) to a collagen solution on the reconstruction rate of collagen molecular assembly was evaluated. The rate of collagen molecular assembly was reduced by the addition of alginic acid and of pectic acid that was containing carboxy groups. Dextran, agarose, and soluble starch did not affect the rate, while dextran sulfate and lambda-carragenan accelerated the rate of collagen molecular assembly. The denaturation curves of collagen reconstructed with lambda-carragenan showed two peaks at about 45 degrees C and 55 degrees C. The use of a polyanionic saccharide made it possible to endow the reconstructed collagen fibrils with flexibility to enhance the application of collagen as a scaffold material for tissue engineering.
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