Stress controls the mechanics of collagen networks

  • Collagen is the main structural and load-bearing element of various connective tissues, where it forms the extracellular matrix that supports cells. It has long been known that collagenous tissues exhibit a highly nonlinear stress–strain relationship, although the origins of this nonlinearity remain unknown. Here, we show that the nonlinear stiffening of reconstituted type I collagen networks is controlled by the applied stress and that the network stiffness becomes surprisingly insensitive to network concentration. We demonstrate how a simple model for networks of elastic fibers can quantitatively account for the mechanics of reconstituted collagen networks. Our model points to the important role of normal stresses in determining the nonlinear shear elastic response, which can explain the approximate exponential relationship between stress and strain reported for collagenous tissues. This further suggests principles for the design of synthetic fiber networks with collagen-likeCollagen is the main structural and load-bearing element of various connective tissues, where it forms the extracellular matrix that supports cells. It has long been known that collagenous tissues exhibit a highly nonlinear stress–strain relationship, although the origins of this nonlinearity remain unknown. Here, we show that the nonlinear stiffening of reconstituted type I collagen networks is controlled by the applied stress and that the network stiffness becomes surprisingly insensitive to network concentration. We demonstrate how a simple model for networks of elastic fibers can quantitatively account for the mechanics of reconstituted collagen networks. Our model points to the important role of normal stresses in determining the nonlinear shear elastic response, which can explain the approximate exponential relationship between stress and strain reported for collagenous tissues. This further suggests principles for the design of synthetic fiber networks with collagen-like properties, as well as a mechanism for the control of the mechanics of such networks.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author:Albert James Licup, Stefan Münster, Abhinav SharmaGND, Michael Sheinman, Louise M. Jawerth, Ben Fabry, David A. Weitz, Fred C. MacKintosh
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:384-opus4-1038325
Frontdoor URLhttps://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/103832
ISSN:0027-8424OPAC
ISSN:1091-6490OPAC
Parent Title (English):Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Type:Article
Language:English
Year of first Publication:2015
Publishing Institution:Universität Augsburg
Release Date:2023/04/21
Volume:112
Issue:31
First Page:9573
Last Page:9578
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1504258112
Institutes:Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät / Institut für Physik
Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlich-Technische Fakultät / Institut für Physik / Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Physik II
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 53 Physik / 530 Physik
Licence (German):Sonstige Open-Access-Lizenz