A method of improving the resistance of collagenous tissue to mechanicaldegradation in accordance with the present invention comprises the step ofcontacting at least a portion of a collagenous tissue with an effective amountof a crosslinking reagent. Methods and devices for enhancing the body's ownefforts to stabilize discs in scoliotic spines by increasing collagencrosslinks. This stability enhancement is caused by reducing the bendinghysteresis and increasing the bending stiffness of scoliotic spines, byinjecting non-toxic crosslinking reagents into the convex side of discsinvolved in the scoliotic curve. Alternatively, contact between the tissue andthe crosslinking reagent is effected by placement of a time~-release deliverysystem directly into or onto the target tissue. Methods and devices that usecrosslinking agents for increasing the permeability of an intervertebral disc,improving fluid flux to the intervertebral disc, and increasing the biologicalviability of cells within the intervertebral disc are provided.
