Fabrication and evaluation of a biodegradable cohesive plug based on reconstituted collagen/γ-polyglutamic acid

In the past decade, numerous studies have been devoted to developing natural bioadhesives that have the notable capacity to adhere to wet surfaces. Collagen and γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) are well-known natural hydrophilic polymers that have both been utilized for their versatility in a wide range of biomedical applications. The aim of this study was the construction and characterization of a cohesive plug composed of γ-PGA and reconstituted collagen fibrils crosslinked with water-soluble carbodiimide. Transmission electron microscopy examinations confirmed that the collagen fibrils in the reconstituted collagen/γ-PGA gel retained their native specific D-period structure. This unique D-pattern structure of collagen plays a major role in hemostasis and is also related to several cellular behaviors. The bonding strength of the reconstituted collagen/γ-PGA adhesive was approximately 42.9 ± 4.0 KPa after 5 min of application and increased to 76.5 ± 15.1 KPa after 24 h. This was much stronger than the fibrin adhesive, whose bonding strength was 30.9 ± 0.2 KPa. Furthermore, the reconstituted collagen/γ-PGA gel degraded gradually after subcutaneous implantation in the backs of rats over a period of 8 weeks, without any severe inflammatory response. On the basis of the histological analysis, fibroblasts migrated into the gel while it degraded, which indicates that the gel is not harmful to cellular activity. Together, these findings demonstrate that using reconstituted collagen with retained D-periodicity as a component of the bioadhesive is a possibly better option to formulate effective adhesiveness and is promising as a scaffold for tissue repair.