Chemical modification of bovine pericardium and its effect on calcification in the rat subdermal model

Specific modification of functional groups in collagen has been used to investigate their influence on calcification and thermal stability of bovine pericardium. Pretreatment of pericardium with iron (III) citrate reduced calcification in the rat subcutaneous implant model, as did acyl azide activation of carboxyl and amide groups. Chondroitin sulphate had no significant effect, while cyanamide treatment was mainly effective in combination with iron (III) citrate. Glutaraldehyde pretreatment restricted reaction with other modifying agents, but, as a postfixation treatment, improved the thermal stability of other agents. Glutaraldehyde post-fixation had no significant relationship to the calcification rate.