Static and dynamic nanomechanical properties of human skin tissue using atomic force microscopy: Effect of scarring in the upper dermis.
Grant, Colin A. Twigg, Peter C. Tobin, Desmond J.
Grant, Colin A.
Twigg, Peter C.
Tobin, Desmond J.
Publication Date
2012-07-06
End of Embargo
Supervisor
Rights
Peer-Reviewed
Yes
Open Access status
closedAccess
Accepted for publication
Institution
Department
Awarded
Embargo end date
Additional title
Abstract
Following traumatic injury, skin has the capacity to repair itself through a complex cascade of biochemical change. The dermis, which contains a load-bearing collagenous network structure, is remodelled over a long period of time, affecting its mechanical behaviour. This study examines the nanomechanical and viscoelastic properties of the upper dermis from human skin that includes both healthy intact and scarred tissue. Extensive nanoindentation analysis shows that the dermal scar tissue exhibits stiffer behaviour than the healthy intact skin. The scar skin also shows weaker viscoelastic creep and capability to dissipate energy at physiologically relevant frequencies than the adjacent intact skin. These results are discussed in conjunction with a visual change in the orientation of collagenous fibrils in the scarred dermis compared with normal dermis, as shown by atomic force microscopy imaging.
Version
No full-text in the repository
Citation
Grant, C. A., Twigg, P. C., and Tobin, D. J. (2012). Static and dynamic nanomechanical properties of human skin tissue using atomic force microscopy: Effect of scarring in the upper dermis. Acta Biomaterialia. Vol. 8, No. 11, pp. 4123-4129.
Link to publisher’s version
Link to published version
Link to Version of Record
Type
Article