A method for isolating sulphated glycosaminoglycans washes a mechanically cleaned tissue, exposes tissue in a solution of 0.1M phosphate pH 5.8-6.0 buffer heated to a temperature of 65.degree. C. for 30 minutes, overcooks the tissue in activated 0.1-0.4% papain at 65.degree. C. for 6-24 hours, cools the papain digest to 4.degree. C., removes fats and undigested tissue residues, selectively isolates the sulphated glycosaminoglycans for 4-10 hours on a solid carrier, obtained from bone tissue collagen with particle sizes ranging from 0-01 to 0.35 cm3, washes the carrier with 0.05-0.1 N-hydrochloric acid, degreases and eluates the carrier with a solution of 0.6-0.15 N-mineral salt in 0.8 N-acetic acid or in 0-01-0-025 N-alkali liquor, precipitates the sulphated glycosaminoglycans with ethanol, centrifuges with 1500 r.p.m. for 15 minutes at a temperature of 4.degree. C., washes the precipitate with ethanol or acetone, and dries and sterilizes the precipitate.