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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.03.03.482886

Modulation of the Biophysical and Biochemical Properties of Collagen by Glycation for Tissue Engineering Applications

Vaez, M.·asgari, m.·Hirvonen, L.·Bakir, G.·Aguayo, S.·Schuh, C. M.·Gough, K.·Bozec, L.
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Abstract

The structural and functional properties of collagen are modulated by the presence of intramolecular and intermolecular crosslinks. Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs) can produce intermolecular crosslinks by bonding the free amino groups of neighboring proteins. In this research, the following hypothesis is explored: The accumulation of AGEs in collagen decreases its proteolytic degradation rates while increasing its stiffness. Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) detect biochemical changes in collagen scaffolds during the glycation process. The accumulation of AGEs increases exponentially in the collagen scaffolds as a function of Methylglyoxal (MGO) concentration by performing autofluorescence measurement and competitive ELISA. Glycated scaffolds absorb water at a much higher rate confirming the direct affinity between AGEs and interstitial water within collagen fibrils. In addition, the topology of collagen fibrils as observed by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a lot more defined following glycation. The elastic modulus of collagen fibrils decreases as a function of glycation, whereas the elastic modulus of collagen scaffolds increases. Finally, the enzymatic degradation of collagen by bacterial collagenase shows a sigmoidal pattern with a much slower degradation rate in the glycated scaffolds. This study identifies unique variations in the properties of collagen following accumulation of AGEs.

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Vaez, M., asgari, m., Hirvonen, L., Bakir, G., Aguayo, S., Schuh, C. M., Gough, K., Bozec, L.. 2022-03-03. Modulation of the Biophysical and Biochemical Properties of Collagen by Glycation for Tissue Engineering Applications. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.03.03.482886

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