Preparation and characterization of cross-linked collagen–phospholipid polymer hybrid gels

2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-immobilized collagen gel was developed. Using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl)-1-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), we cross-linked a collagen film in 2-morpholinoethane sulfonic acid (MES) buffer (EN gel). EN gel was prepared under both pH 4.5 and pH 9.0 in order to observe changes in cross-linking ability. To cross-link MPC to collagen gel, poly(MPC-co-methacrylic acid) (PMA) having a carboxyl group side chain was chosen. E/N gel was added to the MES buffer having pre-NHS activated PMA to make MPC-immobilized collagen gel (MiC gel). MiC gel was prepared under both acidic and alkaline conditions to observe the changes in the cross-linking ability of PMA. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the PMA was cross-linked with collagen under both acidic and alkaline conditions. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed that the shrinkage temperature increased for the MiC gels and that the increase would be greater for the MiC gel prepared under alkaline conditions. The data showed that swelling would be less when the MiC gel was prepared under alkaline conditions. The biodegradation caused by collagenase was suppressed for the MiC gel prepared under alkaline conditions due to stable inter- and intrahelical networks.