The influence of methylene blue on the photochemical stability of collagen

The influence of methylene blue on the photochemical stability of collagen from rat tail tendon (solution and film) was investigated. The viscisimetry measurements, gel permeation chromatography, optical activity, UV and IR s pectroscopy have been used in these studies. The results indicate that phot ochemical stability decreases when collagen contains 0.1 and 0.01% of methy lene blue. The triplet excited molecules of methylene blue react with colla gen and accelerate photochemical transformation. Concentration 1% of methyl ene blue in collagen causes the increase of photochemical stability, probab ly due the scattering of incident radiation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.