Collagen Analysis
The biochemical laboratory of the collagen department provides a comprehensive material characterisation "around collagen". Tests are established according to ASTM-Standard F 2212 "Characterization of Type I Collagen as Starting Material for Surgical Implants and Substrates for Tissue Engineered Medical Products (TEMPs)“ and thus meet the requirements in the framework of an approval of collagenous medical products. The spectrum of methods is continuously extended and also involves non-collagenous proteins (such as elastin or keratin) and other biomolecules of extracellular matrix (such as glycosaminoglycan). The following analysing methods are available at FILK:
Chemical sum parameters (collagen content, protein content, fat content, mineral content, total sugar content)
Amino acid analysis
Elastin content
Degree of cross-linking
Chromatography (HPLC, LC-MS)
Mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS, MALDI-TOF/TOF)
Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE, IEF)
Spectroscopy (UV-Vis, FTIR)
Microscopy (light microscopy, REM, AFM)
Denaturation temperature (using DSC)
Enzyme stability (trypsin, collagenase)
Rheology
Physical parameters (solubility, swelling, water vapour permeability)
Mechanical strengths (tensile force, elongation at break), also in micro- and nanoscale
Special analyses on request
