Effects of a Pseudophysiological Environment on the Elastic and Viscoelastic Properties of Collagen Gels

Figure 9

Relaxation moduli of ring-shaped collagen gels as a function of temperature (experiments performed either at 23°C or 37°C), hydration (either with or without a PBS solution), and mechanical preconditioning (either with or without mechanical preconditioning PC). 𝐸_𝐸, 𝐸₁, and 𝐸₂ are, respectively, the elastic and the viscous moduli of the gels considered in the viscoelastic model. The sum of all 3 moduli is the instantaneous linear modulus 𝐸_𝑅0 at a strain of 10%. Values are expressed as mean ± standard error. Significance: *𝑃<0.05; **𝑃<0.01; ***𝑃<0.001.