Efficacy evaluation of electric field frequency and temperature on dielectric properties of collagen cross-linked by glutaraldehyde.

Solid-state dielectric properties are reported for unmodified collagen (Col) and glutaraldehyde-modified collagen (Col-GA) over the frequency range from 100Hz to 100kHz and at temperatures from 25 to 145°C. In the full temperature and frequency range the average values of the relative permittivity and dielectric loss for Col samples are higher than those recorded for Col-GA samples. The peak temperature of these both parameters associated with the release of loosely bound water is around 73 and 77°C for Col and Col-GA samples, respectively. The activation energy for the reorientation and breaking of hydrogen bonds takes the values 32kJmol-1 for Col and 23kJmol-1 for Col-GA. The relative permittivity decrement and conductivity increment of Col-GA samples fall by 40 and 30% on average in the temperature range 25-75°C, as compared to Col samples. Dielectric properties of Col-GA may be helpful in designing scaffolds for tissue engineering.