This work describes a process for the selective hydrolysis of carboxamide groups of asparagine and glutamine found in collagen polymeric matrices for the preparation of new charged collagen biomaterials. The results showed that under alkaline conditions and in the presence of alkaline and alkaline earth metals, protein carboxamide side chain groups were selectively hydrolyzed to produce collagen matrices with net increase of 106 negative charges at neutral pH, in comparison to native matrices. Although no changes were observed at the secondary protein structure or at the microfibrillar level of collagen matrix organization, significative changes were detected in the pattern of the sub-periodicity of the D-period, probably due to an increase in electrostatic interaction.
Collagen; carboxamides; selective hydrolysis
