CPC D06N 3/0006 (2013.01) [C12N 5/0068 (2013.01); C14C 3/06 (2013.01); D06N 3/00 (2013.01); D06N 3/0011 (2013.01); C12N 2533/50 (2013.01)] | 12 Claims |
4. A fiber-reinforced composite material, the material comprising:
a tanned fibrous scaffold comprising a plurality of fibers having a surface functional group,
wherein the plurality of fibers are surrounded by collagen cross-linked to the surface functional group on the plurality of fibers,
wherein the cross-linking between the surface functional group of the plurality of fibers and the collagen is sufficient to create a fiber-reinforced composite material having a tensile strength that is greater than about 1.0 MPa, and
wherein the scaffold comprises a naturally occurring cellulosic fiber containing the surface functional group, further wherein the surface functional group is selected from the group consisting of: an amine, a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid group, and combinations thereof.
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