Measurement and semi-quantitative analysis of swelling/shrinking behavior of collagen using QCM technique

Abstract

Simultaneous measurments of weight change and visco-elasticity change of collagen on pH jump were done using a quartz crystalline microbalance with dissipation mode (QCM-D). Apparent decrease in weight on pH jump from 3 to 7 was interpreted as release of water from the collagen gel and an enhanced hardness at the pH jump was related to the shrinking of the gel. Reverse process was observed on the pH jump from 7 to 3. Those structural changes caused by the reversible swelling/shrinking of the gel were analyzed by parametric fitting procedure.