Abstract: A method for making a collagen strengthened cellulosic sheet by providing a cellulosic pulp slurry; adding solubilized collagen to the pulp slurry, and mixing for a time effective for interaction of the cellulosic pulp slurry and solubilized collagen; forming the interacted cellulosic pulp slurry and solubilized collagen into a sheet; and drying the sheet; also, a method for using solubilized collagen for strengthening paper by mixing the solubilized collagen with a cellulosic pulp slurry; and making a cellulosic pulp product from the mixture and drying.

Abstract: A method for making a collagen strengthened cellulosic sheet by providing a cellulosic pulp slurry; adding solubilized collagen to the pulp slurry, and mixing for a time effective for interaction of the cellulosic pulp slurry and solubilized collagen; forming the interacted cellulosic pulp slurry and solubilized collagen into a sheet; and drying the sheet; also, a method for using solubilized collagen for strengthening paper by mixing the solubilized collagen with a cellulosic pulp slurry; and making a cellulosic pulp product from the mixture and drying.

Abstract: A method for making a collagen strengthened cellulosic sheet by providing a cellulosic pulp slurry; adding solubilized collagen to the pulp slurry, and mixing for a time effective for interaction of the cellulosic pulp slurry and solubilized collagen; forming the interacted cellulosic pulp slurry and solubilized collagen into a sheet; and drying the sheet; also, a method for using solubilized collagen for strengthening paper by mixing the solubilized collagen with a cellulosic pulp slurry; and making a cellulosic pulp product from the mixture and drying.

Abstract: A method for making a collagen strengthened cellulosic sheet by providing a cellulosic pulp slurry; adding solubilized collagen to the pulp slurry, and mixing for a time effective for interaction of the cellulosic pulp slurry and solubilized collagen; forming the interacted cellulosic pulp slurry and solubilized collagen into a sheet; and drying the sheet; also, a method for using solubilized collagen for strengthening paper by mixing the solubilized collagen with a cellulosic pulp slurry; and making a cellulosic pulp product from the mixture and drying.

Abstract: The invention includes a method that provides a low cost aqueous solution of solubilized collagen by the steps of: (a) providing an aqueous ground slurry of insoluble collagen and adjusting the pH of said slurry to obtain activity for a proteolytic enzyme added in Step b; (b) adding said proteolytic enzyme to said pH adjusted slurry; (c) reacting the slurry and enzyme of Step b and/or recycled insoluble collagen and enzyme from Step e at a temperature, T, and for a time, t, effective for forming a solution increased in solubilized collagen; (d) adding additional water and insoluble collagen to said solution of Step c and mixing; (e) separating at least some of the solution of Step d containing solubilized collagen from insoluble collagen, whereby at least a portion of said insoluble collagen and proteolytic enzyme is recycled to Step c, and the separated solution containing solubilized collagen is withdrawn as product; an alternative embodiment provides for the direct production of solubilized collagen withou

Abstract: The invention includes an improved method for producing an aqueous solution of soluble collagen. The method comprises the steps of:(A) providing an aqueous ground slurry of insoluble collagen containing insoluble collagen at a first concentration and at a pH effective to obtain activity for a proteolytic enzyme added in step (B);(B) adding a proteolytic enzyme to said slurry;(C) reacting said slurry and enzyme at a temperature, T.sub.1, and for a time t.sub.1 effective for forming a slurry containing at least some soluble collagen;(D) diluting at least a portion of the slurry formed in step (C) with water to form a diluted slurry containing insoluble collagen at a second concentration; and(E) reacting said diluted slurry obtained in step (D) at a temperature, T.sub.2 and for a time t.sub.2, effective to produce a solution containing an increased amount of soluble collagen.

Abstract: Production of human procollagen or collagen in cells which ordinarily do not produce these molecules is effected by constructing expression systems compatible with mammary glands of non-human mammals. For example, expression systems can be microinjected into fertilized oocytes and reimplanted in foster mothers and carried to term in order to obtain transgenic non-human mammals capable of producing milk containing recombinant human procollagen or collagen. Human procollagen or collagen produced in this manner can be made of a single collagen type uncontaminated by other human or non-human collagens.

Abstract: A method for making a collagen strengthened cellulosic sheet by providing a cellulosic pulp slurry; adding solubilized collagen to the pulp slurry, and mixing for a time effective for interaction of the cellulosic pulp slurry and solubilized collagen; forming the interacted cellulosic pulp slurry and solubilized collagen into a sheet; and drying the sheet; also, a method for using solubilized collagen for strengthening paper by mixing the solubilized collagen with a cellulosic pulp slurry; and making a cellulosic pulp product from the mixture and drying.

Abstract: Copolymers are provided having varying ratios of elastin and fibroin repeating units. By varying the length of segments of the elastin and fibroin repeating units, the absorption can be greatly varied. Tensile strengths remain relatively constant regardless of the composition within the prescribed ranges. The copolymer compositions and recombinant fibroin can be used for the production of a wide variety of formed objects and amorphous masses for use as implants.

Abstract: The invention includes a method that produces a low cost aqueous solution of solubilized collagen by the steps of: (a) providing an aqueous ground slurry of insoluble collagen and adjusting the pH of said slurry to obtain activity for a proteolytic enzyme added in Step b; (b) adding said proteolytic enzyme to said pH adjusted slurry; (c) reacting the slurry and enzyme of Step b and/or recycled insoluble collagen and enzyme from Step e at a temperature, T, and for a time, t, effective for forming a solution increased in solubilized collagen; (d) adding additional water and insoluble collagen to said solution of Step c and mixing; (e) separating at least some of the solution of Step d containing solubilized collagen from insoluble collagen, whereby at least a portion of said insoluble collagen and proteolytic enzyme is recycled to Step c, and the separated solution containing solubilized collagen is withdrawn as product; an alternative embodiment provides for the direct production of solubilized collagen withou

Abstract: Genetically engineered E. coli carry vectors containing inserts that code for Clostridium histolyticum collagenase. These inserts code for: (a) a form of collagenase having a molecular weight of about 68,000 daltons in the essential absence of larger forms of collagenase; (b) the 68 kd form of collagenase and a fusion polypeptide consisting of the collagenase protein fused to at least a portion of the .beta.-galactosidase protein of E. coli or (3) the 68 kd form of collagenase and polypeptides of molecular weight of from above about 68,000 daltons to about 100,000 daltons and having the enzymatic activity of C. histolyticum collagenase as indicated by digestion of .sup.3 H-acetylated collagen and by specific inhibition by 1,10-phenanthroline plus EDTA. The collagenase genes in the transformed E. coli are expressed efficiently in the transformed cells to yield enzymatically active and immunologically cross-reactive collagenase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of collagen from animal intestines etc. It is characterized in that the starting material is mixed with ice-water at a pH of 5,5, that the mixture is disintegrated and then heated to 40.degree.-42.degree. C. and hydrolysed at a pH of 10,5 using a proteolytic enzyme. After finishing of the hydrolyses pH is regulated to 5,5 and the collagen is separated and collected. The invention also encloses collagen produced through the process and a number of new application areas for collagen.

Abstract: Recombinant protein purification vectors and methods for their use are disclosed. The vectors contain a DNA sequence coding for a gelatin binding region of fibronectin. The vectors express a foreign DNA sequence of interest fused to the fibronectin portion. Secretion signals on the fused product assist the product in being secreted from a production cell. The product can then be purified on a gelatin containing affinity column and digested with a protease such as trypsin to cleave the desired protein from the gelatin binding region. The vectors can also be designed to code for factor XIIIa cross liking sites and to have a chemically reactive cysteine residue.

Abstract: The invention includes a method that produces a low cost aqueous solution of high molecular weight solubilized collagen by the steps of: (a) providing an aqueous ground slurry of insoluble collagen; (b) adjusting the water or solid content of the wet ground slurry whereby the insoluble collagen is at a concentration that promotes substantially maximum solubilized collagen concentration and molecular weight in a final product; (c) adjusting the pH of the slurry from Step b to obtain activity for a proteolytic enzyme added in Step d; (d) adding the proteolytic enzyme to the pH adjusted slurry and reacting at a temperature, T, and for a time, t, effective for forming high molecualr weight solubilized collagen from the insoluble collagen particles; (e) controlling the reaction conditions for obtaining a high concentration of soluble collagen and a high molecular weight of the solubilized collagen by simultaneously measuring the concentration of solubilized collagen and the molecular weight of the solubilized coll

Abstract: The invention relaates to the production of collagen fibers by comminuting collagen containing tissues, drying the comminuted product and milling the dried material while maintaining the temperature sufficiently low to prevent substantial conversion of collagen to gelatin. The collagen fiber product is particularly useful for restructuring poorly textured meats, mechanically recovered meat products, offal, fish, fish products and other protein products to improve textural properties, water retention, fat retention, eating quality, juicines, succulence, shape, size retention and protein content.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the recovery of a substantially insoluble, radiation imageable polyacetylene dispersion in aqueous binder which comprises contacting the dispersion with a proteolylic enzyme in an amount sufficient to decompose the binder, at a pH of from about 3 to about 9 and a temperature of between about 20.degree. C. and about 70.degree. C. and separating polyacetylene solids from the resulting liquid mixture, and which solids can be solubilized and recrystallized for further use.

Abstract: A device and a method for fusing biological cells. The device is formed by a chamber having a tube for containing a cell suspension and a cover for sealing the tube. The chamber is provided with a lower electrode having a smooth and flat surface for contacting the cells precipitating in the cell suspension, and an upper electrode opposite to the lower electrode. The lower electrode forms the inner bottom surface of the tube. The upper electrode is inserted in the cover to enter the tube. The chamber is centrifuged to form the layers of cells on the lower electrode at the bottom of the tube. Then, a predetermined ac voltage is applied across the upper and lower electrodes to fuse the cells efficiently. Such a device and method are useful for the production of monoclonal antibodies or giant cells.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a biologically active basement membrane composition. When polymerized under physiological conditions, the composition forms gel-like structures whose ultrastructure resembles interconnected thin sheets of the lamina densa zone of basement membrane. The major components of the composition include laminin, type IV collagen, heparin sulfate proteoglycan, entactin and nidogen. These components polymerize in constant proportions when redissolved and allowed to reconstitute. Molecular sieve studies on the soluble extract demonstrate that laminin, entactin and nidogen are associated in a large but dissociable complex. The reconstituted matrix is biologically active and stimulates the growth and differentiation of a variety of cells, including epithelial cells, nerve cells, hair follicles and the like. The reconstituted matrix can also be used for determining metastatic potential of tumor cells and for isolating metastatic tumor cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides human characterized by a molecular weight of about 170,000 Dalton, a hexameric structure with monomeric subunits with a molecular weight of about 28,000 Dalton and a carbohydrate content of about 2%.The present invention provides a process for obtaining and purifying globular domain NC1 of basal membrane collagen, wherein human or animal tissue is subjected to a first limiting treatment with bacterial collagenase, the degradation products obtained are separated from non-collagen proteins by chromatography on a weakly basic anion exchanger, the collagen degradation products are then subjected to a second collagenase digestion at an elevated temperature and the globular domain NC1 is purified by molecular sieve fractionation.Furthermore, the present invention is concerned with the use of this for the determination in body fluids in the case of the use of their antibodies, as well as far the detection of antibodies directed thereagainst in body fluids.

Abstract: This invention relates to a surfactant composed of acylated collagen or acylated gelatine produced by the acylation of the side chain amino radicals of collagen or gelatine with an aliphatic acid having 2-26 carbon atoms and a dicarboxylic acid having 2-8 carbon atoms and a production process thereof. Since it has less toxicity and irritation against the human body and can dissolve in a neutral solution of pH 6-8 in the form of molecular dispersion, the surfactant is especially suitable for use in the field of cosmetic and foodstuff industries.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for isolation of connective tissue fibers, called biomatrix, containing a significant portion of the extracellular matrix, i.e., basement membrane components and components of the ground substance. The connective tissue fibers isolated by this method provide significantly higher survival and attachment rates, and often significantly improved growth properties, for in vitro cultures of differentiated cells, especially epithelial cells, over current culture substrates which do not contain these fibers.

Abstract: A process for the production of an unnative and biologically active bonded collagen fiber sheet from human placentae is described, in which process collagen-containing material from placentae is treated with a neutral salt solution, a solution of citric acid and with pepsin. The degraded collagen material obtained in this manner is, where appropriate, treated with a crosslinking agent. The collagen material produced in this manner is used for producing bonded collagen fiber sheets which can be used, for example, as covering for wounds.

Abstract: A collagen preparation comprising collagen-I for human or veterinary medicine obtainable by proteolyzing, cross-linking, reducing, optionally heat treating, and finally sterilizing mammalian collagen I material under conservation of its biological texture.

Abstract: Aldehyde cross-link intermediates and cross-links are generated in the central helical portion of collagen by incubating collagen with pyridoxal-5-phosphate and either cupric copper ion or ferrous iron ion. The cross-links are chemically similar to natural cross-links found in the non-helical regions and are directly between amino-acid moieties naturally occuring in the central helical portion of collagen. Cross-linking and utilization of aldehyde intermediates occurs when the product is reincubated after pyridoxal is removed. Alternatively maintaining the product at body temperatures will promote cross-linking. The cross-linked collagen product has increased resistance to enzyme degradation.

Abstract: A method, solid-state culture support and culture solution are disclosed which enables successful in vitro culturing of differentiated cells, with significant retention of their differentiated character. Through the use of extracellular matrix fibers, specifically derived from connective tissue, as culture substrates, the method also discloses the isolation of the connective tissue fibers and their preparation as a culture substrate. This method provides significantly higher survival and attachment rates, and often significantly improved growth properties for in vitro cultures of differentiated cells, especially epithelial, over the current methods for culturing these cells.This method also significantly enables certain differentiated cells to retain much of their normal enzymatic activities.Furthermore, this method enables certain differentiated cells to retain to a high degree, their ability to secrete substances, such as hormones.

Abstract: A proteolytic enzyme-containing composition is prepared having stabilized proteolytic enzyme activity and the ability to convert scleroproteins to water soluble products without racemization. The composition contains a proteolytic enzyme system from Bacillus cereus and an anionic detergent. The proteolytic enzyme system consists of a proteolytic enzyme oligomer that is retained by an ultrafilter membrane that retains molecules larger than 10,000 molecular weight and is reversibly interconvertible with a proteolytic active subcomponent that passes through the same membrane that retains the oligomer. The anionic detergent is preferably an alkyl sulfate or sulfonate or an alkyl-aryl sulfate or sulfonate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the manufacture of a collagen slurry which can be used, inter alia, for manufacturing casings for food products. When manufacturing the slurry, various parts of the digestive system are used as starting material and are reduced and suspended, after which the collagen is extracted, cleaned and brought into a slurry state.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a collagen solution and its use for the manufacture of collagen fibrillae for adsorbing coagulation factors, as diagnostic agent, for the manufacture of a collagen sponge and for use in a cosmetic preparation.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of collagen products for medical and cosmetic purposes, wherein collagen products prepared according to the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,083 are subjected to an additional heat treatment or a treatment with gaseous hydrogen halide in order to improve the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the collagen product, in particular its absorption and mechanical strength.

Abstract: Novel hemostatic agent comprises equine arterial fibrillar collagen in a carrier. The agent is useful for the aggregation of platelets for clinical diagnostic tests and for the clotting of blood, such as for controlling bleeding in warm blooded species. The fibrillar collagen is obtained by extracting homogenized equine arterial tissue with aqueous solutions followed by extensive dialysis.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of a collagen solution and its use for the manufacture of collagen fibrillae for adsorbing coagulation factors, as diagnostic agent, for the manufacture of a collagen sponge and for use in a cosmetic preparation.

Abstract: A process for producing collagen sponge which is insoluble but highly swellable in water, the sponge having a velour-like surface and being particularly suited for medical and cosmetic applications.

Abstract: Chemically-modified quaternary-structured fiber collagens of minimum molecular length, diameter and periodicity, and containing a relatively high positive electrostatic charge are claimed as hemostatic agents. Specific examples are guanidinated, esterified, and guanidinated-esterified collagen fibers of the type described.

Abstract: Soft contact lenses are made from purified fiber collagen and mixtures of such fiber with purified solubilized collagen.

Abstract: Improved soft contact lenses are made from collagen gels to which water-soluble organic polyhydroxy polymers are added, e.g. mucopolysaccharides, polyvinyl alcohols, etc.

Abstract: An improved collagen gel soft contact lens is prepared from an aldehyde-crosslinked, lens-shaped collagen gel containing a water-soluble, aliphatic, monomeric, polyhydroxy compound, e.g., glucose.

Abstract: A method for conditioning a collagen-containing raw material to render it adaptable to hot-water extraction of collagen and collagen degradation products therefrom, which comprises incubating said raw material in an aqueous bath containing a neutral or alkaline protease at a pH between 6.5 and 13 in the presence of a member selected from the group consisting of urea, guanidine, or an acid addition salt of quanidine.

Abstract: Polymers of quaternary-structured collagen of minimum length, diameter and periodicity, and containing a relatively high positive electrostatic charge are claimed as hemostatic agents. Specific examples are guanidnated polymers of the type described, esterified polymers, and esterified-guanidinated polymers.