Collagen powder

Abstract

There is a need to provide a collagen powder having desirable product characteristics, such as high fluid absorption capacity, while also having processing characteristics that allow commercial manufacturing and handling of the collagen powder. The present invention relates to a collagen powder, a method of manufacture thereof, and uses thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a collagen powder, the process comprising the steps of providing a collagen source; adjusting the concentration of the collagen source; adjusting the pH of the collagen source; freezing the collagen source; dehydrating the frozen collagen; and degrading the dehydrated collagen to a powder.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A collagen powder prepared by a method comprising the steps of:
 (a) obtaining collagen from a collagen source;   (b) adjusting a concentration of the collagen to be in a range from 1.5% to 5.0% and a pH of less than 4.5 to obtain adjusted collagen;   (c) freeze drying the adjusted collagen to obtain dried collagen; and   (d) mechanically processing the dried collagen to obtain the collagen powder,   wherein the collagen powder has a bulk density in a range from 25 mg/cm 3  to 35 mg/cm 3  and a water uptake capacity of absorbing at least 20 times more water in weight than a weight of the collagen powder.   
     
     
         22 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein in step (b), the concentration of collagen is adjusted prior to adjusting the pH of collagen. 
     
     
         23 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein in step (b), the pH of collagen is adjusted prior to adjusting the concentration of collagen. 
     
     
         24 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein in step (b), the concentration of collagen and pH of collagen are adjusted simultaneously. 
     
     
         25 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein in step (b), adjusting the pH comprises introducing acetic acid. 
     
     
         26 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein step (c) comprises freezing to a temperature of about −33° C. to about −42° C. 
     
     
         27 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein step (c) comprises removing water substance from the adjusted collagen by reducing pressure to be in a range from 0.05 mbar to 1 mbar. 
     
     
         28 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein step (c) comprises increasing the temperature to about +30° C. at a rate of about 0.3° C. to about 1.5° C. per minute. 
     
     
         29 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein step (c) comprises increasing the temperature to about +40° C. at a rate of about 0.3° C. to about 1.5° C. per minute. 
     
     
         30 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein step (c) comprises at least one equilibrating step, and wherein the at least one equilibrating step comprises maintaining the temperature at a constant temperature, sufficient to allow the frozen collagen to reach a desired temperature. 
     
     
         31 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein step (c) comprises six equilibrating steps, each equilibrating step being conducted when the temperature is increased by 10° C., and wherein step (c) comprises freezing to a temperature of about −33° C. to about −42° C. 
     
     
         32 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein step (c) comprises at least one equilibrating step, and wherein the at least one equilibrating step comprises maintaining the temperature at a constant temperature, sufficient to allow the frozen collagen to reach a desired temperature. 
     
     
         33 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein step (c) comprises six equilibrating steps, each equilibrating step being conducted when the temperature is increased by 10° C. 
     
     
         34 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein step (d) comprises milling the freeze-dried collagen to a powder using a mesh size of 1 mm. 
     
     
         35 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein in step (c), an amount of water substance removed is about 30 times an amount of collagen in the adjusted collagen. 
     
     
         36 . The collagen powder of  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises sterilizing the collagen powder obtained at step (d) using ethylene oxide.