Viscoelastic properties of model segments of collagen molecules

Collagen is the prime construction material in vertebrate biology, determining the mechanical behavior of connective tissues such as tendon, bone and skin. Despite extensive efforts in the investigation of the origin of collagen unique mechanical properties, a deep understanding of the relationship between molecular structure and mechanical properties remains elusive, hindered by the complex hierarchical structure of collagen-based tissues. In particular, although extensive studies of viscoelastic properties have been pursued at the macroscopic (fiber/tissue) level, fewer investigations have been performed at the smaller scales, including in particular collagen molecules and fibrils. These scales are, however, important for a complete understanding of the role of collagen as an important constituent in the extracellular matrix. Here, using an atomistic modeling approach, we perform in silico creep tests of a collagen-like peptide, monitoring the strain-time response for different values of applied external load. The results show that individual collagen molecules exhibit a nonlinear viscoelastic behavior, with a Young's modulus increasing from 6 to 16 GPa (for strains up to 20%), a viscosity of 3.84. ± 0.38 Pa·s, and a relaxation time in the range of 0.24–0.64 ns. The single molecule viscosity, for the first time reported here, is several orders of magnitude lower than the viscosity found for larger-scale single collagen fibrils, suggesting that the viscous behavior of collagen fibrils and fibers involves additional mechanisms, such as molecular sliding between collagen molecules within the fibril or the effect of relaxation of larger volumes of solvent. Based on our molecular modeling results we propose a simple structural model that describes collagen tissue as a hierarchical structure, providing a bottom-up description of elastic and viscous properties form the properties of the tissue basic building blocks.

► Collagen is the prime construction material in vertebrate biology.
► Here we perform in silico creep tests of a collagen-like peptide.
► Collagen molecule viscoelasticity: Young’s modulus of 6–16 GPa, viscosity of ≈3.84 Pa·s, relaxation time of ≈ 0.4 ns.
► Molecule viscosity is significantly lower than that of fibril, suggesting the presence of additional viscous mechanisms.
► We propose a simple structural model that describes collagen tissue as a viscoelastic hierarchical structure.