Abstract

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was oxidised by hydrogen peroxide to prepare oxidised polyvinyl alcohol (OPA). The chemical structure of OPA was characterised by FTIR, SEC and potentiometric titration. PVA was ruptured into fragments along with the formation of terminal aldehyde and carboxyl groups after oxidation. Then the modification effect of OPA on collagen was investigated. A Schiffʼs base was formed between the aldehyde group of OPA and the amino group of collagen under alkaline conditions, without altering the triple helical structure of collagen. OPA promoted the moderate aggregation of collagen through chain entanglement, and enhanced the thermal stability of collagen. The main reaction between OPA and collagen was proposed as grafting of the single aldehyde component of OPA onto the collagen chain, which was quite different from the cross-linking action of glutaraldehyde. These results suggest the prospect of designing collagen-based biomaterial with a proper range of strength by OPA.