Effect of UV irradiation on the physico-chemical properties of iron crosslinked collagen

Collagen is the main component of connective tissue and finds immense applications as a biomaterial. In this study, effect of UV irradiation on collagen crosslinked with iron has been carried out. The physical and optical properties of crosslinked collagen affected by UV irradiation were analyzed using electrospectral and fluorescence studies. The electronic spectral studies showed that the photoproducts formed on UV radiation decrease in the presence of iron. Circular dichroic studies revealed that the conformational changes brought about in the protein due to UV irradiation have been reduced owing to the crosslinking with iron. However, prolonged irradiation does bring about conformational changes to the protein.