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Effects of Hydration on Nanoscale Structural Morphology and Mechanics of Individual Type I Collagen Fibrils

Abstract

Type I collagen is one of the most vital proteins in our bodies and serves a number of structural roles. Despite collagen’s importance, little is known about its nanoscale morphology in tissues and how morphology relates to mechanical function. This study directly probes nanoscale structure and mechanics in collagen as a function of hydration utilizing atomic force microscopy investigations of the mouse tail tendon. We demonstrate that collagen morphology and mechanical properties at the nanoscale change with dehydration, indicating that hydration is a factor which must be considered when performing studies at any length scale in collagen-based tissues. Studies are underway to further investigate this phenomenon and to determine how these properties change with disease in tendon and other Type I collagen-based tissues.

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Correspondence to Joseph M. Wallace.

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Wallace, J.M., Harding, C. & Kemp, A. Effects of Hydration on Nanoscale Structural Morphology and Mechanics of Individual Type I Collagen Fibrils. MRS Online Proceedings Library 1465, 7–12 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1557/opl.2012.926

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