Some studies point that crosslinking increase the inflammatory reaction of collagen[1-3]. while some other studies suggests that Cross-linking also can be introduced to reduce the antigenicity. The cross-link formation can shield or modify major antigenic sites (tellopeptide) and, thus, reduce their capacity to interact with antibodies[4].
So does crosslinking actually increase or decrease the antigenicity of collagen as biomaterial?
1. Badylak SF. Decellularized allogeneic and xenogeneic tissue as a bioscaffold for regenerative medicine: factors that influence the host response. Ann Biomed Eng. 2014;42:1517–27. https ://doi.org/10.1007/s1043 9-013-0963-7.
2. Rothamel D, Schwarz F, Sager M, Herten M, Sculean A, Becker J. Biodegradation of differently cross-linked collagen membranes: an experimental study in the rat. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2005;16:369–78. https ://doi.org/10.111 1/j.1600-0501.2005.01108 .x.
3. Schwarz F, Rothamel D, Herten M, Sager M, Becker J. Angiogenesis pattern of native and cross-linked collagen membranes: an immunohistochemical study in the rat. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2006;17:403–9. https ://doi.org/10.1
111/j.1600-0501.2005.01225 .x.
4. Chevallay, B.; Herbage, D. Collagen-based biomaterials as 3D scaffold for cell cultures: Applications for tissue engineering and gene therapy. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 2000, 38, 211–218. [CrossRef] [PubMed]