Date of Graduation
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Quinn, Kyle
Abstract
Intrinsic aging causes changes in the structure and mechanical properties in skin, yet the complex organization of the collagen fibers in the dermis makes it challenging to fully understand how these fibers behave and interact as skin gets older. In this study, we used the single-shot Quantitative Polarized Light Imaging (ssQPLI) system developed by Quinn Lab to measure the changes in collagen structure between young and old mice in response to mechanical testing. Our results showed that young skin was more effective at reorganizing when stretched. Specifically, young skin showed greater changes in directional variance (DV) and more fiber rotation toward the direction of loading, meaning the collagen structure could maintain its strength and flexibility under strain. In contrast, old skin showed smaller changes in DV and fiber rotation, suggesting that collagen fibers were less capable of adapting to mechanical forces. Our observed results did not always follow patterns found in previous studies, showing that collagen behaves in complex, non-uniform ways. Overall, these findings suggest that intrinsic aging impairs the ability of collagen to reorient under stress, and these results could help guide novel therapeutic methods focused on improving wound healing and enhancing the functions of the skin.
Keywords
biomechanics; polarized light imaging; intrinsic aging; collagen
Citation
Koundinya, S. (2025). Understanding the Effects of Aging on Skin Tissue Mechanics and Collagen Organization through Quantitative Polarized Light Imaging. Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/bmeguht/163
