The effect of different methods of cross-linking of collagen on its dielectric properties Original Research Article

This paper reports on the effect of different methods of collagen cross-linking on its dielectric properties. In order to obtain collagen–hyaluronic acid (HA) scaffolds, collagen was first dehydrated by a combination of thermal and vacuum drying (DHT) and then treated with the chemical reagent carbodiimide (EDC/NHS) for final cross-linking. The measurements of the relative permittivity ɛ′ and the dielectric loss ɛ″ for all materials were carried over the frequency range of 10 Hz–100 kHz and at temperatures from 22 to 260 °C. The results for these samples reveal distinct relaxation processes at low temperatures, below 140 °C and at higher temperatures as broad peak around 230 °C. The first and second relaxation are associated with changes in the secondary structure of collagen accompanied by the release of water and with the denaturation of dry collagen, respectively. The influence of cross-linking on the permittivity of collagen is significant over the entire temperature range.