The Effects of Biaxial Preconditioning on Failure of Acelluluar Collagen Gels Available to Purchase

Due to collagen’s importance as an extracellular matrix (ECM) structural protein, it has often been used as a scaffold material for engineered or model tissue [1]. In order to correctly generate new tissues, the scaffolding must mimic the native ECM. The mechanical properties are crucial not only as a structural support but also to allow for cell differentiation [1]. Preconditioning is a processing technique where a sample of soft tissue material is subjected to cyclical strain. As a result, the fibers align in accordance with the direction of preconditioning [2]. Such realignment alters the mechanical properties of the tissue. In order to design more effective tissue engineering scaffolds, it is important to characterize the effects of preconditioning on the damage and failure of collagen constructs. This study attempts to understand how preconditioning alters the stresses, strains, and failure of a sample when it is subjected to a load in different orientations.