Cholesteric Twist of CollagenIn VivoandIn Vitro

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Abstract
In biological structures the spatial distribution of collagen can correspond to the geometry adopted by molecules in cholesteric liquid crystals; in compact bone the twist appears between fibrils, forming helices, and disposed along coaxial cylinders. In thin sections of self assembled collagen gels twisted structures have been observed; the geometry of the fibril aggregates corresponds to a cylindrical twist. In dehydrated drops of collagen solutions the textures observed are related to cholesteric and hexagonal pseudomorphoses. The liquid crystalline behaviour of collagen in these different situations is discussed.