[Biomaterials based on collagen]

The review deals with collagen which is an essential natural polymer for preparing of biomaterials used in different fields of medicine. Besides discussing the structure of the basic polymer, the antigenicity of collagen materials as well as the bioactive properties of the collagen implants are described. The substantial part of the paper is oriented to the bioengineering processes of the preparation of the collagen matrix and composite structures. For these the physical and chemical modification of collagen are used. The processes of the modification are shown to be important in the fixing of the structure, improving the mechanical properties and influencing and directing the resorption of collagen materials in organism. Two types of materials are subdued to a detailed discussion. One which is combined with glycosoaminoglycanes and serves as the temporary skin cover and the second type, the structure of which, in the combination with hydroxylapatite imitates bone. (Tab. 4, Ref. 22.)