Spatiotemporal mapping of microscale stiffness during collagen polymerization and crosslinking by optical multifrequency time-harmonic elastography

Key Points

• This research aims to characterize the mechanical properties of collagen networks using a novel imaging technique.
• Utilized optical multifrequency time-harmonic elastography (OMTHE) for mechanical characterization.
• Focused on micrometer resolution for detailed analysis of collagen networks.
• Optimized for point-wise shear wave excitation in small samples.
• Demonstrated rapid mechanical characterization of collagen networks.
• Revealed changes in stiffness during collagen polymerization and crosslinking.
• Showed potential for evaluating extracellular matrix mechanics.