CA1239103A - Collagen gel, process for making it and membrane articles made from said gel - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The invention relates to a method of making collagen gel suitable for use in the manufacture of thin collagen film articles having superior mechanical properties comprising: providing clean animal tendon at room tem-perature containing at least 30% collagen essentially free of ligamentous tissue; comminuting said tendon and processing it once through a microcutter in the presence of about 65% water by weight to form a collagen slurry; treating said slurry with about 0.1 - 0.5% by weight Rhozyme - 41 based on collagen solids content of said slurry to digest elastin and other non-collagenous matter while leaving the collagen structure substantially intact; acid-swelling the slurry with an acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid and tartaric acid to form a swollen collagen suspension; homogenizing and deaerating said suspension to form a collagen gel. The invention further relates to the collagen gel so obtained, film articles made therefrom and a method of making the film articles.
The collagen gel so obtained is more homogeneous and imparts improved thinness, smoothness and strength to articles made therefrom.

Description

iffy 7 COLLAGEN GEL, PROCESS FOR MAKING IT AND
MEMBRANE ARTICLES MADE FROM SAID GEL
The present invention relates to a collagen gel and to a process for obtaining it, to film articles made therefrom and to a process for making said articles. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved homogeneous collagen gel, which can be used in the manufac-lure of collagen film articles of improved thinness and smoothness, superior strength, and superior homogeneity, to a process for obtaining the improved gel, and to film articles made therefrom and possessing the above-described superior properties. Articles encompassed by the present invention include but are not limited to condoms, vaginal diaphragms, surgical gloves, films, permeable membranes, tubing, etc.
In the prior art, such film articles were made from natural rubber, synthetic elastomers or lamb cecum.
Natural rubber and synthetic elastomers yield films of generally satisfactory strength and thinness and can be produced at a relatively moderate cost, but are unseats-factory because they inhibit sensitivity they are come pletely water impermeable, and they are ineffective heat conductors.
Coca are naturally thin membranes resulting in articles of rather satisfactory strength ant in contrast with natural and synthetic elastomers, increased sensitivity and gas permeability. However, coca are limited in quantity and expensive to prepare. In addition, coca have an unpleasant appearance as they cannot be freed of vines YO-YO

-2-1 i.e., surface irregularities remaining after removal of fatty or muscle tissue.
Collagen gels of the prior art were rheology-gaily non-homogeneous and contaminated with ligaments particles. Very thin, smooth films with uniform strength were difficult to prepare from these gels and were sunsuit-able for many of the above mentioned use.
One such collagen product was a condom which appeared in the market in Japan approximately fourteen years ago under the trademark ~Roragen". This product was relatively crude, unattractive in appearance and feel and low in strength. Consequently, it was completely disk placed by the later product and has disappeared from the market. The manufacturing company has failed and attempts by applicant's assignee to acquire more information on the nature of the ~Koragen" process and the type of collagen employed proved futile.
U.S. Patent No. 4,349,026 (issued on September 14, 1982) to Mutt discloses a collagen condom product and a method for making it. The present invention is an improvement on the subject matter of this patent.
Mutt discloses a collagen condom made prefer-ably from the Achilles tendon of young animals. Union-tunately, Achilles tendon is not commercially available as it is usually left on the animal carcass through the meat retail stage. In addition, the collagen treatment disk closed by Mutt results in a collagen film that is not sufficiently strong and cannot be economically used in large scale production of condoms or other film articles.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a collagen gel of superior homogeneity which may be used in the manufacture of collagen film having superior strength, and improved homogeneity, thinness and smoothness and which is suitable for the manufacture of thin film articles.

-3- 285-776 It is another object of this invention to provide a method for making such a gel Using animal tendon as the raw material.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a thin collagen film article, such as a condom, having superior breaking and tear strength, improved homogeneity, thinness, smoothness, sensitivity and appearance and being convenient and economical to manufacture.
It is still another object of the present invention I to provide a method for making such a collagen film article.
These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art in light of the following description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for making collagen gel for use in the menu-lecture of thin collagen film articles having superior mechanical properties comprising:
commenting clean animal tendon containing at least 30% got-pa lager essentially free of ligaments tissue in the presence offbeat 65% water to form a collagen slurry:
treating said slurry with about n. l-o. 5% by weight Rhizome*-41 based on the collagen solids content of said slurry:
swelling the slurry with an acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, malefic acid, succininc acid, mafia acid, * TM

or I:

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-pa- 285-776 oxalic acid, and tartaric acid to form a swollen collagen suspend soon: homogenizing and decorating said suspension to form a collagen gel.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making collagen gel suitable for use in the manufacture of thin collagen film articles having superior mock-apical properties comprising:
(a) providing clean frozen animal tendon containing at least 30% collagen and free of ligaments tissue:
(b) grinding said tendon and passing it through a killed mill in the presence of about 91-93% water and about 0.1 to 0.5%
enzyme based on collagen solids to form a collagen slurry:
(c) allowing said enzyme containing slurry to stand at room temperature for a time sufficient to break up (digest) elastic and other noncollagenous matter while leaving the collagen struck lure substantially intact:
(d) swelling the slurry with an acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, malefic acid, succinic acid, mafia acid, oxalic acid and tartaric acid to form a swollen collagen sup-pension;
(e) homogenizing and decorating said suspension to form collagen gel.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a gel made by the above method.

I

4 285-776 Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for making film using the above gel, said method comprising:
(a) forming a film by applying at least one coat of said gel onto a substrate surface;
(b) drying said film at 65-95C;
(c) neutralizing and coagulating said film in a alkaline solution 0.14-1.3N in hydroxyl ion for about 30 sec. to about 5 min.;
(d) washing said film with water;
(e) tanning said film in a tanning solution containing OOZE - 1.0% based on weight of an alluded selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and glyoxal, for about 30 sec. to 5 min.;
(f) removing excess tanning solution by washing; and (g) removing said film from said substrate.
In another aspect the invention relates to a method for making collagen gel for use in the manufacture of thin collagen film articles having superior mechanical properties comprising:
commenting clean animal tendon containing at least 30%
collagen essentially free of ligaments tissue in the presence of about 65% water to form a collagen slurry:
treating said slurry with about 0.1-0.5% by weight, based on the collagen solids content of said slurry, of a proteolytic en-zoom derived from Aspergillus ours capable of breaking down eras-tin and other non-collagenous components of said tendon while leaving the collagen fibrils substantially intact: swelling the slurry with an acid selected from the group consisting of lactic : , ' -pa-acid, malefic acid, succinic acid, mafia acid, oxalic acid, and tar-tang acid to form a swollen collagen suspension: homogenizing and decorating said suspension to form a collagen gel.
In a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for making collagen gel for use in the manufac-lure of thin collagen film articles having superior mechanical pro-parties comprising:
commenting clean animal tendon containing at least 30%
collagen essentially free of ligaments tissue in the presence of about 65~ water to form a collagen slurry:
treating said slurry with about 0.1-0.5~ by weight, based on the collagen solids content of said slurry, of a proteolytic enzyme capable of breaking down elastic and other non-collagenous components of said tendon while leaving the collagen fibrils sub-staunchly intact: swelling the slurry with an acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, malefic acid, succinic acid, mafia acid, oxalic acid, and tartaric acid to form a swollen cotta-gun suspension: homogenizing and decorating said suspension to form a collagen gel.
I Alternatively, the film can be formed by adding starch to thy gel in an amount up to about 100% by weight based on the gel, forming the film as above, drying at 65-95C for a time sufficient for cross linking to take place, washing the film as above with or without tanning and removing the film from the substrate.
A further aspect of the present invention relates to a collagen film article made by using the above film-making method.

-pa-.

.

-4b-2~5-776 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a process for making collagen gel from tendon material.
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a process for making a collagen film article from collagen gel.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a process for making a tubular film article such as a condom.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
... . . . . . . .. .
The collagen raw material for the present invention should in have a high collagen content (preferably at least about 30-45%), should be relatively free of ligaments -4b-.

a 1 tissue which is resistant to swelling, and should yield a homogeneous and easily process able collagen gel. In addition, it should be readily available on a large scale and economically recoverable and processableO A suitable source of collagen for the present invention is animal tendon. Preferred, is tendon from higher animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, etc. and especially preferred are bovine digital flexor tendons. Achilles and other tendons would also be suitable, but they are not common-Shelley available. Hide collagen from limed tannery splits also suitable but the economics of limed split process-in are unattractive. Pigskin or lamb skin collagen is also expected to be appropriate, but it has not been tested because it is not readily available and its processing is costly.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 1, bovine digital flexor tendons, 1, are cleaned, frozen and then ground in an ordinary commercial grinder such as "Butcher Boone/ 2, to suitable size pieces (usually 3/16 - 3/8 in.). Ground tendon is dispersed in water (to which Rhizome has been added) and commented in a micro cutter, 4, (such as a "Stephen" machine, manufactured in West Germany by A. Stephen U Shone, GmbH).
Grinding and comminution are two steps of a process designed to break up collagen material into fiber bundles and eventually individual fibrils, which can be acid-swollen to yield a homogeneous gel. One pass through the micro cutter is sufficient. More than one pass at this stage, adversely affects strength. The blade spacing of the micro cutter also affects strength of the final product.
Generally, the closer the blade spacing, the higher the strength. The preferred minimum spacing is 1 mm. Closer spacing (i.e. less than 1 mm) results in reduced throughput 1/ Model TCA-32, manufactured by laser Mfg. Co., Inc., Los Angeles, California.
truck l ark _$_ 1 and increases the risk of overheating, while wider spacing (e.g. 1.5 mm and over) results in reduced strength.
Micro cutting may be postponed until after acidification, but if conducted before, a more homogeneous gel results.
Rhizome is a proteoly~ic enzyme derived from Aspergillus ours which is advantageously used to break down elastic, which surrounds collagen fibrils and binds them together, as well as other non-collagenous components, the presence of which weakens strength of the final pro-duct. The enzyme effectively eliminates such undesirable components while leaving collagen fibrils substantially intact for maximum strength results. Rhizome (manufac-lured by Corning Glass Biochemical, a division of Corning Glass, Inc., Corning, New York), is particularly preferred as it does not require use of either an activator such as Sistine, or an in activator such as peroxide and it no-suits in fabricated collagen film articles with tensile strength superior to that of naturally occurring collagen films and superior to that of collagen film articles or films produced using other enzymes, such as pancreatic, ficin, etc. Rhizome 41 is used in an amount ranging between about 0.1 and 0.5~ on the basis of dry collagen solids in the slurry. Enzyme treatment, (digestion) t S
may last from about 3 to about 24 hours at room temperature with 15-18 his. being most preferred. Longer treatment times are possible, but unnecessary. Ordinary room temper-azure variations during Rhizome treatment do not affect strength values. lending, by ego passing the enzyme-containing slurry once through the micro cutter, 4, dip-purses the enzyme unfurl and facilitates enzyme action Enzyme deactivation, toe end of the enzyme treatment, is not necessary when using Rhizome 41, but may be accom-polished, if desired, by addition of hydrogen peroxide in an amount at least sufficient to deactivate the enzyme, followed by stirring. Slightly higher peroxide amounts are acceptable but unnecessary. 16.S% ~22 on a dry solid basis is preferred. After addition of peroxide and 1 stirring, the suspension is allowed to stand, preferably for approximately 45 minutes.
The enzyme-treated slurry is ready for acid swelling, 6. Choice of the acid affects the degree of swelling and the strength of the ultimate product Most preferred are lactic and malefic acids, but other organic acids such as succinic acid, oxalic acid, mafia acid and tartaric acid may be used with satisfactory results Inorganic acids such as Hal and H3PO4 impart less swelling and reduced viscosity and produce lower strength causing the film to split during drying. Other properties, such as odor and toxicity may affect choice of the acid depending on the end use of the collagen film or article.
Cost is also a factor to be considered.
A sufficient quantity of acid is added to the slurry to lower the pi to about 3 for maximum tensile strength. Lowering the pi to about 2 increases cost because more acid is used, causes the film to adhere to substrates and presents a problem during film forming. A
pi higher than about 3 fails to accomplish sufficient swelling. Accordingly, a pi of about 3 is preferred.
When lactic acid is used the preferred amount is 82~ by weight on a dry collagen solids basis.
Strength of the final product is further enhanced if a small amount of alluded is added to the slurry during acid addition to effect partial cross-linking of the collagen. Formaldehyde is preferred over glutaraldehyde and glyoxal. A preferred amount is 0.36~ formaldehyde based on dry collagen solids.
After acid swelling, bundles of collagen fibers are still present in the gel. At this point, one pass through a micro cutter with a blade clearance of mm is useful to disrupt the remaining fiber bundles, and thus to blend and homogenize the gel. Both the acid and the formaldehyde are preferably added to the slurry at the point of its introduction into the micro cutter 6. The resulting gel is further homogenized and darted by 1 mixing, 7, in erg., a Ross planetary mix I/ under vacuum. it the end of this step, the gel is ready for film and article formation. it this point the gel prefer-ably contains about 0.95 to 1.3% total solids, most preferably, about 102~ solids. Preferred gel viscosity is about 1300 to about 3000 cups, most preferably 1200 cups, for dipping, and higher for extrusion Set forth in the following Table is a comparison of the mechanical properties of two films made from gel.
The first was made from a gel containing 0.95% collagen (based on dry weight of tendon) while the second was made from a gel containing 1.2% collagen TABLE
Gel 1 Gel 2 Tendon (37~ solids) 291g 368g Rhizome 0.108g 0.136g formaldehyde 0.83ml 1~04m1 lactic acid 54ml 68ml total solids of gel 1.15% 1.47%
pi 2~7 2.7 viscosity 1320 cups 2~0cps Film 1 Film 2 Wet thickness (microns) 39 107 elongation 43.9% 54.1~
Wet breaking strength 2.15Kg 2.93Kg The above-described process results in prepare-lion of a clear gel, which can be formed into a transparent film, as described below. However, in another preferred embodiment, the present invention also contemplates modify-cation of the clear gel to yield a translucent film which is as strong as or stronger than the film prepared with the clear gel, skin-like in appearance, and which can be made slightly thicker, as is often desirable, without increasing processing costs.

1/ Model Not LDM-4 manufactured by Charles Ross Son Co., Hauppauge, New York.

1 Increasing thickness by applying more coats to form the film is economically unattrac~i~e. Increasing thickness by increasing gel solid content is prohibitive because of viscosity constraints. However, it has been further unexpectedly discovered that addition of a small amount of starch (preferably corn starch, but other starch powders or talc may also be used) in powder form a fords the following benefits:
1. Film thickness may be increased, if desired, without increasing the number of gel coats (the increase in thickness is proportional to starch content).
2. Viscosity of the gel is substantially unaffected even after addition of relatively large amounts of starch (up to about at least 100% by weight based on collagen solids in the gel). accordingly, film formation is not inhibited.
3. The gel becomes translucent (instead of transparent) and acquires a skin-like feel and appearance.
This is particularly desirable when manufacturing condoms.
4. Strength of the film increases after addition of about 60~ or more starch as compared to that of a clear film of the same thickness. Strength increase of about 15~ has been observed.

5. Film flexibility, softness and elasticity is improved even at low moisture levels, as starch lung-lions as a humectant.

6. Article forming is facilitated due to improved releasability of the film from the surface of the substrate on which it is formed.

7. Raw material and processing costs are reduced The unit cost of corn starch is about 10% what of collagen solids. Moreover, less expensive equipment such as molds or substrates for film connation may be used because of the improved flexibility, elasticity and releasability of the film.
The process for making gel that will result in translucent film is the same as that for making gel that will result in clear film through the Rhizome digestion 3~3~

--1 o 1 step. After digestion, a starch suspension to which the required amounts of formaldehyde and lactic acid have been added is mixed into the enzyme digested collagen dispel-soon. The resulting mixture contains about 20-100% of starch by weight based on the collagen solids content of the slurry and most preferably about 60~ of starch.
Film formation according to a preferred embody-mint of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 2, takes place as follows:
A thin layer of film is formed by applying, 21, at least one coat of gel on a substrate surface. The substrate may be a mold such as a mandrel which may be dipped in the collagen gel. film thickness is controlled by the viscosity and solids content of the gel, and the number of such dippings or coats.
The thus formed film is subsequently dried in air, 22 at about 65-95C and preferably at about 85C.
Most preferably, a four coat film is dried after the deposition of each of the first two coats 31, at which time a retaining elastic band 32, is placed on the film at the upper part of the mandrel 33 (See Fig. 3). Over the first two coats (and the elastic band) each of two additional coats is deposited and dried. After drying of the fourth coat and the remaining process steps described below) are completed, the film including the band may simply be rolled off the mandrel.
When a tubular article, such as a condom is formed from clear gel, the following method is used.
A mandrel is used as a mold. The mandrel is preferably made from an acrylic polymer (such as plucks-glass) and has a tapered cylindrical shape (as shown in Fig. 3). The mandrel is dipped in the gel and air dried repeatedly as many times as desired Each dipping causes deposition of a thin coat of gel on the mandrel or on the previously deposited coat. Four coats of clear gel of the most preferred composition described above are sufficient to produce a film 30-35 microns thick, which is the pro-1 furred thickness for a condom of this type. Slow rotation of the mandrel during dipping serves to orient the film The mandrel is preferably rotated in opposite directions during each of successive dippings. The rotation of the mandrel is preferably ages so as to produce a film of about 20% more strength in the longitudinal (as compared to the transverse) direction, i.e. in the direction parallel to the mandrel axis. When using the most prefer red ingredient amounts and method parameters for the gel, the preferred mandrel rate of rotation ranges between about 1.04 and 1.65 times most preferably 1.35 times the rate at which the mandrel is withdrawn from the gel.
The finally dried film is neutralized 23, by soaking the film gel in an alkaline bath such as a 0.14-1.3N ammonium hydroxide bath (preferably 0.71% NH40H) for 30 sec. - 5 min., preferably 1.5 min. Hydroxides of alkali metals such as sodium or potassium may also be used but Noah is preferred for its ease of removal from the film. Thereafter, the neutralized film is rinsed with water 24.
The rinsed film is tanned for about 30 sect - 5 min., preferably for 30 sec., in a tanning solution, 25, containing 0.05-1.0% (at a pi 6.9-4.5) and preferably aye%
(at a pi of 6.8~ glutaraldehyde mainly to enhance film and stability, and to facilitate separation of the film from the mandrel. The duration of the tanning step should be kept to a minimum as overmanning will make the film brittle. Instead of glutaraldehyde, it is possible to use formaldehyde or glyoxal. Other tanning agents, such as reducing sugars, chromium salts or vegetable tannins may also be used, but they produce lower tensile strengths, and may be unsuitable for some applications of the present invention. The excess tanning solution it removed by rinsing in water and the thus prepared film is removed from the mandrel or other substrate.
When a condom it made from translucent (starch-containing gel), the procedure is generally the same as 1 above, except that if a mandrel is used, a less expensive tapered glass mandrel may be substituted for the acrylic one. In addition, tanning is unnecessary Thus the dried film is neutralized as in the transparent film case/ and afterwards it is washed and removed from the mandrel.
Four coats of gel are also preferred. If the gel contains 60~ starch, as is preferred, a final film thickness of 55 +/~ 5 microns will result.
The following examples serve to further thus-irate the present invention but not to limit its scope Example 1 Bovine digital flexor tendon was ground through plate with 3/16" diameter holes. The coarsely ground tendon contained 42.4~ solids. A OWE Kg portion of the ground tendon was dispersed into 11.05 go water at 15C, to which had been added 0.131 g Rhizome. The total dispersion was passed once through a Stephen Micro cutter with a lam blade clearance. The commented mass was allowed to stand at room temperature to allow the enzyme to work. After 17 hours, 70 ml of lactic acid containing 1 ml 37~ formaldehyde were stirred into the enzyme treated slurry The acidified mass was passed once through the Micro cutter to enhance swelling and to homogenize the resultant gel. The homogenized gel was transferred to a Ross planetary mixer and stirred under vacuum for 20 minutes to remove entrained air. The gel had a solids content of 1~35% and a viscosity of 1192 cups.
Four coats of gel were applied to a mandrel by dipping into the gel and drying four times. The direction of mandrel rotation was changed for each dip. Each gel coat was dried for 15 minutes in a moving stream of air at 1 Example 2 367 g of 35.48% solids tendon was dispersed into 7~20 Kg H20 containing 0.131 g Rhizome. The dispel-soon was commented and digested as in Example 1. Then 3.64 Kg. H20 containing 26.1 g starch, 1 ml formaldehyde and 65 ml lactic acid was stirred unto the digested slurry, and the acidified slurry was passed once through the Micro cutter then decorated. The resulting gel had a solids content of 1.51~ and viscosity of 1278 cups.
A film made as in Example 1, had a wet thickness of 47 microns and a wet breaking strength of 2.41 kg.
Example 3 A gel was made exactly as in Example 2 except that 130.5 g of starch were used. The resulting gel had a solids content of 2069%, and viscosity of 1212 cups. Film made as in Example 1 had a wet thickness of 65 microns and breaking strength of 2.23 Rug.
sample 4 A gel was made exactly as in Example 2 except that 130.5g of starch were used. The resulting gel had a solids content of 2.69%, and viscosity of 1212 cups. Film made as in Example 1 had a wet thickness of 65 microns and breaking strength of 2.23 Kg.
Example 5 355 g of tendon containing 36.73~ solids were used to make a gel as in Example 3. The gel had a solids content of 2.07%, and viscosity of 1390 cups.
Films were made as in Example 3 except that the dried films were not treated with ammonium hydroxide and glutaraldehyde. Instead the dried films were washed with water for 30 minutes, and then removed from the mandrels.
The wet film was 47 microns thick and had a breaking strength of 1.70 Kg.
Example 6 A gel as in Example 5, except that after add-lion of the lactic acid, starch, formaldehyde mixture the acidified slurry was allowed to age 24 hours at 4C before t;' 3 r1~ I

1 micro cutting and decoration. The gel contained 2.02~
solids and had a viscosity of 1194 cups. Films made from this gel as in example 5, had wet thickness of 52 microns and breaking strength of 2.26 Keg Example 7 A Mel was made as in Example 6. It contained 1.98% solids and its vis~opi~y was 970 cups. Films were made as in Example 3, except that the glutaraldehyde treatment was omitted. the wet film was 52 microns thick and had a breaking strength of 2.31 Kg.

Claims (43)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A method for making collagen gel for use in the manufac-ture of thin collagen film articles having superior mechanical properties comprising:
comminuting clean animal tendon containing at least 30%
collagen essentially free of ligamentous tissue in the presence of about 65% water to form a collagen slurry:
treating said slurry with about 0.1-0.5% by weight Rhozyme 41* based on the collagen solids content of said slurry:
swelling the slurry with an acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, and tartaric acid to form a swollen collagen suspension:
homogenizing and deaerating said suspension to form a collagen gel wherein Rhozyme-41* is a proteolytic enzyme derived from Aspergillus oryzae capable of breaking down elastin and other non-collagenous components of said tendon while leaving the collagen fibrils sub-stantially intact.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said tendon is bovi-ne digital flexor tendon.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said microcutter blade spacing is 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the duration of said enzyme treatment ranges between about 3 and about 24 hours.

-15a-

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid and malefic acid.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said slurry is also homogenized by processing through a micro cutter upon addition of said Rhozyme.

-15a-

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said swollen collagen suspension is also homogenized by processing through a microcutter prior to deaeration.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said deaeration takes place while mixing the suspension in a mechanical mixer under vacuum.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein a small amount of formaldehyde is also added to the slurry, at substan-tially the same time as the addition of said acid therein, to effect partial cross-linking of the collagen molecules.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said formaldehyde is added in an amount ranging between 0.3 and 0.4% based on dry solid content of said slurry.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said tendon is bovine digital flexor tendon, said microcutter blade spacing in step (b) is 1mm., said Rhozyme -41 treatment dura-tion is 15 to 18 hours, said Rhozyme - 41 amount is 0.5%, and said acid is lactic acid added in an amount of 50% based on the weight of collagen solids: said method further comprising addition of 0.36% formaldehyde substantially simultaneously with said acid addition, and homogenizing said slurry after said Rhozyme addition and said collagen suspension by after acid swelling by processing through said microcutter.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein after said enzyme digestion an amount of powder selected from the group consisting of starch powder and talc powder is mixed into said slurry in an amount such that the resulting slurry contains between 20 and 100% by weight of said powder based on the slurry collagen solids content.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said tendon is bovine digital flexor tendon.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said microcutter blade spacing is 0.5 to 1.5 mm.

15. A method according to claim 12 wherein the duration of said enzyme treatment ranges between about 3 and 24 hours.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid and maleic acid.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein said slurry is also homogenized by processing through a microcutter upon addition of said Rhozyme.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein said swollen collagen suspension is also homogenized by processing through a microcutter prior to deaeration.

19. A method according to claim 12, wherein said deaeration takes place while mixing the suspension in a mechanical mixer under vacuum.

20. A method according to claim 12, wherein a small amount of formaldehyde is also added to the slurry, at substan-tially the same time as the addition of said acid therein, to effect partial cross-linking of the collagen molecules.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein said formaldehyde is added in an amount ranging between 0.3 and 0.40% based on dry solid content of said slurry.

22. A method according to claim 12, wherein said tendon is bovine digital flexor tendon, said microcutter blade spacing in step (b) is 1mm., said Rhozyme - 41 treatment duration is 15 to 18 hours, said Rhozyme - 41 amount is 0.5%, and said acid is lactic acid added in an amount of 50% based on weight of collagen solids; said method further comprising addition of 0.36% formaldehyde substantially simultaneously with said acid addition, and homogenizing said slurry after said Rhozyme addition and said acid-swollen collagen suspension by processing through said microcutter.

23. A method according to claim 12 wherein said powder is mixed into said slurry in the form of an aqueous dispersion at the beginning of said acid-swelling step, said dispersion also containing dissolved therein said acid used during said acid-swelling step.

24. A method according to claim 20 wherein said powder is mixed into said slurry in the form of an aqueous dispersion at the beginning of said acid-swelling step said dispersion having dissolved therein said acid and said formaldehyde used during said acid-swelling step.

25. A method according to claim 12 wherein said powder is corn starch powder.

26. A method according to claim 12 wherein the amount of said powder mixed in said slurry is 60% by weight based on collagen solids in said slurry.

27. A method according to claim 22 wherein said powder is corn starch powder and is mixed into said slurry in the form of an aqueous dispersion containing dissolved therein said lactic acid -18a-and said formaldehyde and wherein the amount or said corn starch mixed in said slurry is 60% by weight based on the collagen solids in said slurry.

28. A collagen gel made in accordance with the method of claim 1.

29. A collagen gel according to claim 28 having a viscosity ranging between about 1000 and about 3000 cps.

30. A method for making a film article using the gel of claim 29, said method comprising:
forming a film by applying at least one coat of said gel onto a substrate surface;
drying said film at 65-95C:
neutralizing and coagulating said film in an alkaline solution 0.14-1.3N in hydroxyl ion for about 30 sec.
to about 5 min.;
washing said film with water; and removing said film from said substrate.

31. A method according to claim 30 further comprising:
tanning said film in a tanning solution contain-ing 0.05 - 1.0% of an aldehyde selected from the group consist-ing of formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and glyoxal, for about 30 sec. to about 5 min.; and removing excess tanning solution by washing;
after said neutralizing and congulating step and prior to removing said film from said substrate.

32. A method according to claim 30 wherein said drying temperature is 85C.

33. A method according to claim 30 wherein said alkaline solution contains 0.5-4.5% NH4OH and said neutraliz-ing time ranges from about 30 sec. to about 1 min.

34. A method according to claim 31 wherein said aldehyde is glutaraldehyde used in an amount of 0.1% based on 100% glutaraldehyde and said tanning time ranges between about 30 sec. and 1 min.

35. A method for making a film article according to claim 30 wherein said article is a condom and said substrate is a tapered cylindrical mandrel made of acrylic, wherein said forming step comprises applying successive coats of said gel onto said mandrel by dipping said mandrel into said gel while rotating said mandrel about its longitudinal axis in a direction op-posite to that of the immediately previous coat and of the immedia-tely following coat at a speed such that the resulting film will have a strength in the direction parallel to that of the mandrel axis at least 20% greater than its strength in the direction trans-verse to said axis.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein four coats of said gel are applied and wherein after application and drying of the first two coats, an elastic band is then placed around the mandrel near the top of the film the remaining two coats of gel are applied and dried, and, after performance of the remaining steps of said method, said condom is rolled off the mandrel including the elastic band.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said gel is a powder con-taining gel and wherein said mandrel is made of glass.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein said gel is a powder con-taining gel and wherein said mandrel is made of glass.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said powder is cornstarch powder.

40. A film article made in accordance with the method of claim 30.

41. The film article of claim 40, said article being a condom.

42. A method for making collagen gel for use in the manufac-ture of thin collagen film articles having superior mechanical pro-perties comprising:

comminuting clean animal tendon containing at least 30%
collagen essentially free of ligamentous tissue in the presence of about 65% water to form a collagen slurry:
treating said slurry with about 0.1-0.5% by weight, based on the collagen solids content of said slurry, of a proteolytic en-zyme derived from Aspergillus oryzae capable of breaking down elas-tin and other non-collagenous components of said tendon while leaving the collagen fibrils substantially intact:
swelling the slurry with an acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, maleic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, and tartaric acid to form a swollen collagen suspension:
homogenizing and deaerating said suspension to form a col-lagen gel.

43. A method for making collagen gel for use in the manufac-ture of thin collagen film articles having superior mechanical pro-perties comprising:
comminuting clean animal tendon containing at least 30%
collagen essentially free of ligamentous tissue in the presence of about 65% water to form a collagen slurry:
treating said slurry with about 0.1-0.5% by weight, based on the collagen solids content of said slurry, of a proteolytic en-zyme capable of breaking down elastin and other non-collagenous com-ponents of said tendon while leaving the collagen fibrils substan-tially intact:
swelling the slurry with an acid selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, maleic acid r succinic acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, and tartaric acid to form a swollen collagen suspension:
homogenizing and decorating said suspension to form a col-lagen gel.