MODELLING

Figure 1 shows the release profiles of rhEGF from collagen sponge at 37 �C in PBS with/without collagenase solution.
Chih-Hui Yang in his study supposed that under the in vitro non-degradation conditions, rhEGF was initially released by diffusion. Generally speaking, since collagen is enzymatically degraded, low final release values are expected in the absence of any enzymes. Therefore, collagenase was employed for the model of the in vitro rhEGF release study. In project, this case is also valuable.
Therefore, the influence of the types and the concentrations of the crosslinking agents and the preparation conditions on the structures and characteristics of collagen sponges, and the rhEGF release from collagen sponges were compared in his study.

Three different types of crosslinking agents, GTA, genipin and ECD were used to prepare crosslinked collagen sponges. The rhEGF release patterns from collagen sponges are shown in Figure 2. The drug release rate from crosslinked collagen sponges treated with EDC was the fastest, followed by collagen sponges treated with genipin and GTA, respectively. The EDC crosslinked collagen showed no release control effect, which was probably due to the fact that EDC increased the water-solubility and lowered the viscosity of collagen (data not shown). GTA crosslinked collagen showed the most potent release control effect than the other two (EDC and genipin). However, since we want controlled and orderly release system which will be improved our transgenic bacteria, we used genipin for formation our cellulose Wound Dressing layer in three different types of crosslinking agents, GTA, genipin and ECD.