Full Paper

Micromechanical Testing of Individual Collagen Fibrils

  1. Joost A. J. van der Rijt1,
  2. Kees O. van der Werf2,
  3. Martin L. Bennink2,*,
  4. Pieter J. Dijkstra1,
  5. Jan Feijen1

Article first published online: 11 SEP 2006

DOI: 10.1002/mabi.200600063

Issue

Macromolecular Bioscience

Macromolecular Bioscience

Volume 6, Issue 9, pages 697–702, September 15, 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

van der Rijt, J. A. J., van der Werf, K. O., Bennink, M. L., Dijkstra, P. J. and Feijen, J. (2006), Micromechanical Testing of Individual Collagen Fibrils. Macromol. Biosci., 6: 697–702. doi: 10.1002/mabi.200600063

Author Information

  1. 1

    Polymer Chemistry and Biomaterials, Institute for Biomedical Technology, Department of Science and Technology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

  2. 2

    Biophysical Engineering, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

*Biophysical Engineering, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 28 SEP 2006
  2. Article first published online: 11 SEP 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 8 JUN 2006
  4. Manuscript Revised: 2 JUN 2006
  5. Manuscript Received: 16 MAR 2006

Funded by

  • Medtronic Bakken Research Centre

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Keywords:

  • atomic force microscopy (AFM);
  • biofibers;
  • collagen fibrils;
  • force spectroscopy;
  • mechanical properties

Abstract

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Summary: A novel method based on AFM was used to attach individual collagen fibrils between a glass surface and the AFM tip, to allow force spectroscopy studies of these. The fibrils were deposited on glass substrates that are partly coated with Teflon AF®. A modified AFM tip was used to accurately deposit epoxy glue droplets on either end of the collagen fibril that cross the glass-Teflon AF® interface, as to such attach it with one end to the glass and the other end to the AFM tip. Single collagen fibrils have been mechanically tested in ambient conditions and were found to behave reversibly up to stresses of 90 MPa. Within this regime a Young's modulus of 2–7 GPa was obtained. In aqueous media, the collagen fibrils could be tested reversibly up to about 15 MPa, revealing Young's moduli ranging from 0.2 to at most 0.8 GPa.

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