Dynamics of Bridged Water Molecules in the Vicinity of a Collagen Microfibril

Abstract

It is well known that the MRI spin relaxation rates measured in ordered collagenous tissues such as cartilage and tendon are anisotropic across the depth of the tissues. This anisotropy termed as the "magic angle effect" is a consequence of incomplete averaging of dipolar spin interactions due to binding of water molecules to the collagen fibers. ...