The study of biodegradation of thermo-polimerized collagen gels
The possibility of biodegradation of thermopolymerizable collagen gel (without cultured stem cells) in various concentrations is considered. In an experiment, an unpolymerized collagen gel was injected into the conjunctival cavity during preliminary blepharography. A polymerized collagen gel was obtained by incubating a thermopolymerizing collagen gel at37°C for 30 min until complete polymerization, then the gel was placed on the ocular surface and fixed by blepharography. Collagen gel biodegradation was evaluated at the 1st and 4th hours after surgery. Evaluation criteria: visually by the change in the volume of the plugged conjunctival cavity, leakage of fluid through the intershoot spaces, and also 12 hours after the operation according to the volume of collagen gel remaining in the conjunctival cavity (after removal of blepharoraphic sutures). It was revealed that biodegradation of thermally polarizable collagen gel is carried out by the mechanism of its dehydration regardless of the state of the implanted gel (unpolymerized/polymerized). The volume of the dehydrated collagen framework is directly proportional to its concentration. To increase the biodegradation time of a thermopolarizable collagen gel, it is advisable to develop a method for retaining fluid inside the collagen frame.