Collagen Fibril Response to Strain in Scaffolds from Ovine Forestomach for Tissue Engineering.

Scaffold biomaterials are typically applied surgically as reinforcement for weakened or damaged tissue, acting as substrates on which healing tissue can grow. Natural extracellular matrix (ECM) materials consisting mainly of collagen are often used for this purpose, but are anisotropic. Ovine forestomach matrix (OFM) ECM was exposed to increasing strain and synchrotron-based SAXS diffraction patterns and revealed that the collagen fibrils within underwent changes in orientation, orientation index (a measure of isotropy), and extension.

Collagen Fibril Intermolecular Spacing Changes with 2-Propanol: A Mechanism for Tissue Stiffness.

Materials composed primarily of collagen are important as surgical scaffolds and other medical devices and require flexibility. However, the factors that control the suppleness and flexibility of these materials are not well understood. Acellular dermal matrix materials in aqueous mixtures of 2-propanol were studied.