COLLAGEN BASED BIOMATERIALS - AN IDEAL WAY OF INCREASING THEIR RESISTANCE TO INFECTION

Resorcinol monoacetate (RMA) is a relatively water insoluble antibacterial agent which partially crosslinks collagen and has the potential to be an intrinsic antibiotic in collagenous bioprostheses. This study confirms the efficacy of RMA as a chemical that: (a) mildly crosslinks collagen at pH 3.5-4.5; (b) releases very slowly from the pretreated collagen sponge when washed in aqueous medium; (c) inhibits bacterial growth on the pretreated collagen sponges, at 2% (w/w) concentration, for at least 12 days; (d) remains biocompatible under treated conditions.