Nanoscale arrangement and biophysical properties of skin wound after laser welding

Scarring associated with organ fibrosis affect millions of people each year.The healing process of wounds is believed to be influenced by changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is rich in collagen, and sustained activation of fibroblasts.However, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood.Previous studies remain poorly understand of smallerscale investigations, including biomechanical and ECM factors.Raman spectroscopy can characterize functional expression of collagen protein moieties in fibrotic skin, nanoindentation (NI) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) can measure local ECM biomechanics to characterize features between fibrotic and normal skin.Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements can provide insights into pre-strain, molecular order, and orientation of collagen proteins by characterizing their ultrastructure.This review summarizes these techniques' principles that can further deepen our understanding of biophysical interactions within the collagen fiber network to comprehend behaviors and responses of fibroblasts while further characterizing mechanisms supporting regeneration and disease.