ABSTRACT
Collagen possesses a hierarchical structure ranging from the specifi c (Gly-X-Y)n amino acid sequence at the nanoscale, through individual tropocollagen molecules, to fi brils and fi bres measuring tens of micrometres. The mechanical properties of collagen are related to the interplay between structures at two characteristic length scales. Alterations to the collagen structure lead to signifi cant changes in mechanical properties. These structural changes can be deliberate (e.g., crosslinking) or a result of genetic modifi cations in vivo, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
