title: High resolution q-space imaging studies of water in elastin.
abstract: We report on the direct measurement of the molecular diffusion coefficients of water confined to purified bovine nuchal ligament elastin by high resolution q-space NMR imaging. The experimental data indicate that water trapped within an elastin fiber has two distinguishable molecular diffusion coefficients. The component with the slowest mobility has a diffusion coefficient on the order of 10(-6) cm(2)/s that varies inversely with the diffusion time and is seen to reduce near 37 degrees C. The component with higher mobility has a diffusion coefficient reminiscent of free water but is observed to also behave similarly at 37 degrees C. From our experimental data we extract the surface-to-volume ratio of pores within elastin and associated changes as a function of temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth and Physical Sciences, York College of The City University of New York, Jamaica, NY 11451, USA. gboutis@york.cuny.edu
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boutis
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isahkarov
authors.forename: Tasneem
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Lahiru
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kannangara
authors.forename: Pavitarjit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mananga
authors.forename: Atim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ntekim
authors.forename: Yisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rumala
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004058:Diffusion; D004549:Elastin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008022:Ligaments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*