Abstract: A method of enhancing the formation of extracellular matrix in culture. Cells in culture secrete most of the collagen into the media as unprocessed procollagen, i.e., the cells do not convert procollagen to collagen. In contrast, normal extracellular matrix deposition involves procollagen processing to collagen, fibril assembly and deposition into the cell layer to form a collagenous extracellular matrix. The addition of certain growth factors and the addition of a thin layer of a certain volume exclusion agent on top of the cells dramatically enhances the conversion of procollagen to collagen and will increase the amount of collagen and extracellular matrix associated with the cells. This invention advances bioengineering of connective tissues for medical applications that require an extensive and functional extracellular matrix with high tensile strength such as those in the cornea stroma, skin, tendons, ligaments, articular cartilage and the intervertebral disks.

Abstract: A method of enhancing the formation of extracellular matrix in culture. Cells in culture secrete most of the collagen into the media as unprocessed procollagen, i.e., the cells do not convert procollagen to collagen. In contrast, normal extracellular matrix deposition involves procollagen processing to collagen, fibril assembly and deposition into the cell layer to form a collagenous extracellular matrix. The addition of certain growth factors and the addition of a thin layer of a certain volume exclusion agent on top of the cells dramatically enhances the conversion of procollagen to collagen and will increase the amount of collagen and extracellular matrix associated with the cells. This invention advances bioengineering of connective tissues for medical applications that require an extensive and functional extracellular matrix with high tensile strength such as those in the cornea stroma, skin, tendons, ligaments, articular cartilage and the intervertebral disks.

Abstract: There are disclosed processes for preparing biodegradable collagen-based matrices in sponge or sheet form wherein in one embodiment a collagen-based material including a collagen selected from the group consisting of types I, II and II collagens is freeze dried to form a collagen-based sponge which is contacted with a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of a carbodiimide or a succinimidyl active ester to form an intermediate collagen-based matrix which is subsequently subjected to conditions of severe dehydration to form the collagen-based matrix in sponge or sheet form. In another embodiment, a collagen-based sponge or sheet is first subjected to conditions of severe dehydration followed by contacting the thus formed intermediate collagen-based matrix with a carbodiimide crosslinking compound to form the collagen-based matrix in sponge or sheet form.