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Measuring and Modeling Contractile Drying in Human Stratum Corneum
Published on: March 1, 2017
Heterogeneous drying stresses in stratum corneum.
G K German1, W C Engl, E Pashkovski
1Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Biophysical Journal
|June 21, 2012
Summary
The skin
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
- Dermatology
Background:
- The stratum corneum, skin's outer layer, acts as a crucial barrier.
- Current models assume homogeneous skin properties, ignoring its complex structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanical properties of stratum corneum during drying.
- To quantify stress and deformation at the skin-substrate interface across multiple length scales.
Main Methods:
- Utilized in-plane traction stress and deformation measurements.
- Examined porcine stratum corneum samples on a deformable elastomer substrate.
Main Results:
- Skin behaves as a homogeneous elastic material at scales >1 mm.
- Traction stresses become heterogeneous at smaller scales, influenced by stratum corneum structure.
- A linear elastic model accurately describes macroscopic drying behavior.
Conclusions:
- Stratum corneum's mechanical behavior is scale-dependent.
- Heterogeneity in skin structure significantly impacts mechanical properties at micro-scales.
- Understanding these properties is vital for barrier function research.
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