High resolution q ‐space imaging studies of water in elastin

We report on the direct measurement of the molecular diffusion coefficients of water confined to purified bovine nuchal ligament elastin by high resolution q ‐space NMR imaging. The experimental data indicate that water trapped within an elastin fiber has two distinguishable molecular diffusion coefficients. The component with the slowest mobility has a diffusion coefficient on the order of 10 −6 cm 2 /s that varies inversely with the diffusion time and is seen to reduce near 37°C. The component with higher mobility has a diffusion coefficient reminiscent of free water but is observed to also behave similarly at 37°C. From our experimental data we extract the surface‐to‐volume ratio of pores within elastin and associated changes as a function of temperature. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 87: 352–359, 2007. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com