Measurements of the spin-spin relaxation time and the degree of orientation of magnetically oriented collagen gels

In this study, the spin-spin relaxation time of magnetically oriented collagen gels were measured . In addition, the degree of orientation of the collagen fibers was evaluated using electron micrographs of the gels. Water molecules in the collagen gel that were polymerized in the magnetic field had a relaxation time T/sub 2/ of 0.52 s, whereas water molecules in the collagen gel that were not exposed to a magnetic field during polymerization had the relaxation time T/sub 2/ = 1.32 s. The magnetically oriented fibers had a peak at approximately 180 degrees. The respective degrees of orientation of the magnetically oriented fibers and the randomly oriented fibers (polymerized without the magnetic field) were [cos/sup 2//spl theta/] = 0.53 and [cos/sup 2//spl theta/] = 0.40. The magnetically oriented fibers exhibited higher value compared to the randomly oriented fibers. The result was consistent with the structural difference between these fibers.