Integrated Biophysical Characterization of Fibrillar Collagen-Based Hydrogels.

ABSTRACT: This paper describes an experimental characterization scheme of the biophysical properties of reconstituted hydrogel matrices based on indentation testing, quantification of transport via microfluidics, and confocal reflectance microscopy analysis. While methods for characterizing hydrogels exist and are widely used, they often do not measure diffusive and convective transport concurrently, determine the relationship between microstructure and transport properties, and decouple matrix mechanics and transport properties. Our integrated approach enabled independent and quantitative measurements of the structural, mechanical, and transport properties of hydrogels in a single study. We used fibrillar type I collagen as the base matrix and investigated the effects of two different matrix modifi

SUBMITTER: Avendano A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7156078 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature