Lu Fan (Reutlingen, DE; Tübingen, DE), Dr. Mike Barbeck (Rostock, DE; Berlin, DE), Dr. Fabian Körte (Reutlingen, DE), Prof. Dr Katja Schenke-Layland (Reutlingen, DE; Tübingen, DE), Dr. Xin Xiong (Reutlingen, DE)
Abstract text (incl. figure legends and references)
Crosslinked collagen is widely used in clinical treatments. A promising technique is UVA/riboflavin crosslinking which has been approved for clinical ophthalmological therapy since the early 1980. However, the crosslinking mechanism is still not fully understood, and a well-validated manufacturing process with definable composition and reaction kinetics is needed to comply with regulations. In this study, we investigated the mechanism using physical and physicochemical methods, with a focus on stability and mechanical properties. The UVA/riboflavin crosslinked collagen showed improved visco-elasticity, and comparable thermal stability and resistance to degradation compared with EDC/NHS or genipin crosslinking. In vivo studies demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, reduced tissue inflammation, and promoted tissue regeneration effects, indicating the applicability of UVA/riboflavin crosslinked collagen as a biomaterial for wound care and tissue engineering. This study provides valuable insights into the crosslinking mechanism and physical properties of UVA/riboflavin crosslinked collagen, supporting the development of collagen-based materials for biomedical applications with improved mechanical properties and reduced risks of adverse events.
Funding: This work was supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF, Germany, FKZ: 13GW0400A and C); and the State Ministry of Baden–Württemberg for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Tourism (FKZ: 35-4223.10/22; Project MIK)