Work

Exploring collagen fibrillogenesis at the nanoscale: Tip‐enhanced Raman imaging of protofibrils

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Collagen, a key structural component of the extracellular matrix, assembles through a hierarchical process of fibrillogenesis. Despite extensive studies on mature collagen fibrils, intermediates such as protofibrils remain underexplored, particularly at the nanoscale. This study presents hyperspectral tip‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) imaging of collagen protofibrils, offering chemical and structural insights into early fibrillogenesis by acquiring nanoscale molecular profiles of collagen intermediates. TERS spectra, complemented by atomic force microscopy (AFM) images, reveal characteristic molecular vibrational modes, including the phenylalanine ring breathing mode, amide II and / stretching vibrations, with distinct spectral signatures compared to mature fibrils.

Source: Journal of Microscopy

DOI: 10.1111/jmi.70029

Authors: Maria A. Paularie, Emerson A. Fonseca, Vitor Monken, André G. Pereira, Rafael P. Vieira, Ado Jorio

Institution: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Language: English

Topic: Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research

Subfield: Biophysics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,760

Funder: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais