Formation of a Modified Collagenic Biomaterial using Deep Eutectic Solvents

Herewith waste collagen was processed using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) obtained by the complexation between choline chloride (ChCl) and ethylene glycol 1:2 (ChCl:2EG) to form a material with properties similar to leather. The material generated using the waste tanned collagen processed with ChCl:2EG followed by mechanical extrusion was found to show characteristics similar to the one obtained from the material using animal hide powder. However, the tensile strength of extruded collagen was substantially higher (7.56 MPa vs. 0.23 MPa). The improved strength and structure may be due in part to traces of iron imparted into the material during extrusion of the acidic collagen sample. Nevertheless, the material thus generated was found to have a lower degree of crystallinity compared to commercial leather samples. Overall, the process demonstrates a facile method preparing a useful material out of waste collagen by the intervention of DESs.