Fibroblast contraction of collagen matrices with and without covalently bound hyaluronan

Hyaluronan, which is found in high concentrations in fetal tissues, has been suggested to play a major role in preventing scar formation in fetal wounds. We have developed a floating collagen fibrillar matrix (CFM) made out of reconstituted type I collagen for the purpose of evaluating the ability of hyaluronan to inhibit the fibroblast induced contraction of the matrix. When hyaluronan is covalently bound to collagen it appears to better support fibroblast proliferation and matrices are less contractible by these cells than when hyaluronan interacts only ionically. When hyaluronan is bridged between collagen fibrils by a network of extensive covalent crosslinks, contractibility by fibroblasts is abolished. These modified collagen matrices may prove to be very useful in the development of bioprostheses and implants.