Determination of the diffusion coefficient of water into atelocollagen type I thin films by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

 The diffusion coefficient of water into thin polymer layers of glutar aldehyde cross-linked atelocollagen type I matrix (sample 1, the typical layer thickness was about 0.065 × 10⁻³ m) at 23 °C was 1.142 × 10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹. At twice the concentration of the cross-linking agent (sample 2) the diffusion coefficient was 2.795 × 10⁻¹⁰ m² s⁻¹. This increase was attributed to the more ordered morphology and the creation of ordered microvoids in the film. A larger surface area is then available for the transport of diffusing molecules, allowing a higher penetration rate of the solvent.