Mechanical Models of Collagen Networks for Understanding Changes in the Failure Properties of Aging Skin

Nathan Witt; Alan Woessner; Jacob Herrmann; Kyle Quinn; Edward Sander

doi:10.1115/1.4064406

Back

Mechanical Models of Collagen Networks for Understanding Changes in the Failure Properties of Aging Skin

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Mechanical Models of Collagen Networks for Understanding Changes in the Failure Properties of Aging Skin

Nathan Witt, Alan Woessner, Jacob Herrmann, Kyle Quinn and Edward Sander

Journal of biomechanical engineering, Vol.146(7), 071002

07/01/2024

DOI: 10.1115/1.4064406

PMCID: PMC10983714

PMID: 38183223

Files and links (1)

url

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10983714/pdf/bio-23-1332_071002.pdfView

Open Access

Abstract

Skin undergoes mechanical alterations due to changes in the composition and structure of the collagenous dermis with aging. Previous studies have conflicting findings, with both increased and decreased stiffness reported for aging skin. The underlying structure-function relationships that drive age-related changes are complex and difficult to study individually. One potential contributor to these variations is the accumulation of non-enzymatic crosslinks within collagen fibers, which affect dermal collagen remodeling and mechanical properties. Specifically, these crosslinks make individual fibers stiffer in their plastic loading region and lead to increased fragmentation of the collagenous network. To better understand the influence of these changes, we investigated the impact of non-enzymatic crosslink changes on dermal microstructure using discrete fiber networks representative of the dermal microstructure. Our findings suggest that stiffening the plastic region of collagen's mechanical response has minimal effects on network-level stiffness and failure stresses. Conversely, simulating fragmentation through a loss of connectivity substantially reduces network stiffness and failure stress, while increasing stretch ratios at failure.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Mechanical Models of Collagen Networks for Understanding Changes in the Failure Properties of Aging Skin
Creators: Nathan Witt - University of Iowa
Alan Woessner - University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Jacob Herrmann - University of Iowa
Kyle Quinn - University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
Edward Sander - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of biomechanical engineering, Vol.146(7), 071002
DOI: 10.1115/1.4064406
PMID: 38183223
PMCID: PMC10983714
NLM abbreviation: J Biomech Eng
ISSN: 0148-0731
eISSN: 1528-8951
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: P20GM139768; DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: R00EB017723, R01AG056560, R01EB031032; DOI: 10.13039/100000001, name: National Science Foundation, award: 1846853
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 01/06/2024
Date published: 07/01/2024
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Record Identifier: 9984539759002771

Metrics

59 Record Views