Nanomechanical 3D Depth Profiling of Collagen Fibrils
in Native Tendon
Posted on 2020-06-17 - 03:43
Connective tissue
displays a large compositional and structural
complexity that involves multiple length scales. In particular, on
the molecular and the nanometer level, the elementary processes that
determine the biomechanics of collagen fibrils in connective tissues
are still poorly understood. Here, we use atomic force microscopy
(AFM) to determine the three-dimensional (3D) depth profiles of the
local nanomechanical properties of collagen fibrils and their embedding
interfibrillar matrix in native (unfixed), hydrated Achilles tendon
of sheep and chickens. AFM imaging in air with controlled humidity
preserves the tissue’s water content, allowing the assembly
of collagen fibrils to be imaged in high resolution beneath an approximately
5–10 nm thick layer of the fluid components of the interfibrillar
matrix. We collect pointwise force–distance (FD) data and amplitude–phase–distance
(APD) data, from which we construct 3D depth profiles of the local
tip–sample interaction forces. The 3D images reveal the nanomechanical
morphology of unfixed, hydrated collagen fibrils in native tendon
with a 0.1 nm depth resolution and a 10 nm lateral resolution. We
observe a diversity in the nanomechanical properties among individual
collagen fibrils in their adhesive and in their repulsive, viscoelastic
mechanical response as well as among the contact points between adjacent
collagen fibrils. This sheds new light on the role of interfibrillar
bonds and the mechanical properties of the interfibrillar matrix in
the biomechanics of tendon.
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Magerle, Robert; Dehnert, Martin; Voigt, Diana; Bernstein, Anke (2020). Nanomechanical 3D Depth Profiling of Collagen Fibrils
in Native Tendon. ACS Publications. Collection. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05582
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AUTHORS (4)
RM
Robert Magerle
MD
Martin Dehnert
DV
Diana Voigt
AB
Anke Bernstein