The main features of the triple helical structure of collagen were deduced in the mid-1950s
from fibre X-ray diffraction of tendons. Yet, the resulting models only could offer an average …

Collagen is a major component in a wide range of drug delivery systems and biomaterial
applications. Its basic physical and structural properties, together with its low …

During bone formation, collagen fibrils mineralize with carbonated hydroxyapatite, leading to
a hybrid material with excellent properties. Other minerals are also known to nucleate within …

Collagen forms fibrous networks that reinforce tissues and provide an extracellular matrix for
cells. These networks exhibit remarkable strain-stiffening properties that tailor the …

Mineralization of fibrillar collagen with biomimetic process-directing agents has enabled
scientists to gain insight into the potential mechanisms involved in intrafibrillar …

The influx and efflux of water in biological structures actuates reversible deformation and
recovery processes that are crucial for mechanical functions in plants and animals. These …

From an engineering perspective, skeletal tissues are remarkable structures because they
are lightweight, stiff and tough, yet produced at ambient conditions. The biomechanical …

Alterations in stiffness of the trabecular meshwork (TM) may play an important role in primary
open-angle glaucoma (POAG), the second leading cause of blindness. Specifically, certain …

Biomineralized composites, which are usually composed of microscopic mineral building
blocks organized in 3D intercrystalline organic matrices, have evolved unique structural …

Mineralization of collagen is critical for the mechanical functions of bones and teeth. Calcium
phosphate nucleation in collagenous structures follows distinctly different patterns in highly …