Understanding the viscoelastic behavior of collagen matrices through relaxation time distribution spectrum

• DOI: 10.4161/biom.24651
• Publication Date: 2013-04-23T19:10:40Z
• Authors: Bin Xu; Haiyue Li; Yanhang Zhang
• Keywords: Stress relaxation; Type I collagen

This study aims to provide understanding of the macroscopic viscoelastic behavior collagen matrices through studying relaxation time distribution spectrum obtained from stress tests. Hydrated gel and dehydrated thin film was exploited as two different hydration levels matrices. Genipin solution used induce crosslinking in Biaxial tests were performed characterize The rate both hydrated shows a linear initial level dependency. Increased reduces viscosity gel, but effect is negligible for film. Relaxation data by inverse Laplace transform. For most matrices, three peaks at short (0.3s ~1 s), medium (3s ~90 long (> 200 s) observed continuous spectrum, which likely corresponds mechanisms involve fiber, inter-fibril, fibril sliding. Splitting middle peak higher suggesting increased structural heterogeneity with mechanical loading. intensity long-term increases indicating engagement fibrils tissue strain.