PURPOSE: To provide a conjugate comprising a hydrophilic synthetic polymer covalently bonded to a specific collagen which is excellent in biocompatibility, clarity and mechanical strength and is useful for a lenticule, a corneal shield, a corneal implant and the like.
CONSTITUTION: There is provided the aimed conjugate comprising a hydrophilic synthetic polymer, such as bifunctional activated polyethylene glycol or the like, covalently bonded to a chemically modified collagen which is in a nonfibrillar form at pH 7 such as a succinylated collagen and the like, e.g. a conjugate of the formula (wherein PEG is a polyethylene glycol residue). And preferably, the succinylated collagen has a level of succinylation of 25-50% of lysine residues available for succinylation.
PURIMA AARU RAO
JIYOOJI EICHI CHIYU
FURANKU EI DERASUTORO
