Characterizing Collagen-Based Materials Modified By Glycation: A Multiphoton Optical Image Guided Spectroscopy Method

In spite of the adverse ageing effects of glycation in vivo, in vitro this process is widely employed to increase stiffness and strength of tissues' and artificial scaffolds'. In-situ optical characterization methods that report on the structures within these materials could clarify the effects of glycation. We employed one-photon fluorescence and multiphoton microscopy method that combined two-photon fluorescence and second harmonic generation signals to characterize collagen hydrogels modified with glyceraldehyde, ribose and glucose. We observed an increase in the in situ fluorescence as well as structural alterations within the materials during the course of glycation.