A New Method of Detecting Damaged Collagen in Parchment Using Collagen Hybridizing Peptide
- Program: Materials Science and Engineering
- Course: Senior Design II EN.510.434
Project Description:
A major problem in preserving collagen in cultural heritage objects is that it does not have the mechanisms to repair itself, unlike in in vivo systems. Once objects begin to deteriorate, the unraveling of collagen only continues to accelerate. Therefore, early detection and mitigation by conservators is crucial to extending the lifespan of the object. This project is a collaboration between conservation and material science. My objective is to use collagen hybridizing peptide (CHP) in order to develop a new, non-destructive method of detecting and visualizing collagen degradation in parchment.
