Collagen structure and nonlinear susceptibility: Effects of heat, glycation, and enzymatic cleavage on second harmonic signal intensity

Abstract

These structural modifications are representative of changes that occur in pathophysiologic conditions such as thermal injury, diabetes, tumor invasion, and abnormal wound healing. The ability to assess these changes rapidly and noninvasively has considerable clinical applicability. SHG analysis might provide a unique tool for monitoring these structural changes of collagen.