Figure 2. Unloaded Fiber Enzyme Susceptibility.

Fibers of comparable size from the same tail were treated with 0.2 M Ribose for 0, 3 or 7 days and then exposed to a 1% collagenase solution at room temperature. Representative images at the air – collagenase interface of the fibers were digitally recorded at the 0 hours (start) and after 5 and 25 hours of collagenase exposure; the scale bar indicates 1 mm. The native fiber (0-day, no cross-linking) was completely degraded after 5 hours of exposure to collagenase, while the cross-linked fibers were still intact. Between 5 and 25 hours of collagenase exposure the 3-day cross-linked fiber was completely degraded, while the 7-day cross-linked fiber was intact with no visible deterioration after 25 hours of exposure to collagenase.