Chirality loss precedes structural degradation (IMAGE)
Caption
Healthy collagen has a highly ordered microscopic "twist" (chirality) that gives rise to a strong optical signal. As collagen begins to age or deteriorate, this twist is gradually lost long before the fibers themselves start to break apart. Eventually, the collagen network becomes sparse and collapses. This work demonstrates that changes in collagen's molecular organization can reveal tissue deterioration earlier than conventional structural observations.
Credit
Ali Haider / Hiroshima University
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