collagen \kall-ð-jen\ n : 1. the most prevalent protein in the animal kingdom responsible for the structure and integrity of most tissues. 2. form: a protein containing domains of triple-helical conformation. Characteri zed by repetitive Gly-X-Y sequences where glycine is in every third residue, and stabilized by proline and hydroxyproline residues. 3. function: a protein that participates in the formation of extracellular aggregates which are primarily supporting eleme nts.¹

kollagen^TM \kall-ð-jen\ n: 1. a superior wound management biomaterial made of type I and type III collagen in the proper triple-helical conformation. 2. form: properly assembled in aggregates specific for the skin. 3. origin: derived from bovine sources. 4. products: Medifil^® particles, pads, and gel and SkinTemp^® sheets.

Bovine Collagen  Raw collagen extracted from bovine sources. Note the braided nature of fiber bundles.	KollagenTM  Medifil® gel. Note the rope-like assembly and bundles.

Bovine Collagen  These fibrils are 0.5µm in diameter with repeating structural units that result in periodic striations2 (transmission electron micrograph).	KollagenTM  These fibrils are 0.5µm in diameter. Fibrils self assemble to form fibers and aggregates (transmission electron micrograph).