Tensile forces induced in collagen by means of electromechanochemical transductive coupling

Abstract Electric fields are applied across a charged collagen membrane which supports a gradient in neutral salt concentration. Experiments over a wide range of concentration have shown that isometric tensile force densities larger than that of striated muscle can be induced by the applied field. The experimental results, together with the trends predicted by a theoretical model, suggest that the forces result from field-induced changes in intramembrane salt concentration which in turn modify the internal double layer repulsive forces between charged fibrils. Characteristic times for this electromechanochemical transduction process are examined in terms of the various rate limiting processes of importance.