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Synopsis

Collagen provides biological tissues in the human body with passive mechanical function such as stiffness, strength and toughness. Macroscopically, relationships between tissue-structure, composition and mechanical function have been explored, but comparatively less has been done in this context on lower length scales. Smaller scales from sub-mm (i.e. biological system and subcellular)- to the nm-scales (i.e. molecular) offer important insights as these provide mechanical cues to individual cells or a collection of cells, and, are the building blocks of larger structural elements within the structural hierarchy of tissues.

This talk will give an introduction to collagen structure, tissue hierarchy and summarize findings from our group and others, with respect to collagen mechanics across the scales, i.e. from the molecule up to the mesoscale. In addition, mechanical and compositional properties of collagen relevant in the context of age, disease and regeneration will be discussed.