The ultimate in biomaterials-- common collagen
By JEFFREY BERG, PhD
BB&T Contributing Editor
Collagen. This relatively simple, rather under-rated but extremely ubiquitous material works much as a medical device because of its many structural medical opportunities and applications. By making up 25% of body mass it is the most abundant protein in the human body.
Collagen molecules possess a triple helix structure assembled into fibers that provide mechanical strength and shape for most organs and tissues. There are at least 27 genetically distinct types of collagen. Type I collagen is the most common type and found in bones skin, tendons and ligaments. Type II is found in cartilage and Type 3 in blood vessels (see Table 6).
Collagen has a long history of clinical use and has found widespread applications in devices used in orthopedics, urology, cardiology, ophthalmology, neurology, general surgery and dentistry. These applications include wound dressings, hemostats, absorbable sutures, dermal fillers, bone grafts, nerve guides, arterial and dural closures, vascular grafts, surgical meshes, corneal shields, tissue bulking agents and for guided tissue regeneration.
The worldwide market for collagen-based biomaterials has been estimated at $279 million in 2005, projected to grow to $290.2 million this year. For the period 2000-2010 period, it is predicted to have a 3.8% compound growth rate and could reach $351.3 million by 2010.
Bovine collagen is composed of 95% Type I and 5% Type II collagen. It is the predominant collagen used in …
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