We present a mechanism for the selectivity of covalent/electrostatic binding of the Cr(III) ion to collagen, mediated by the kosmotropicity of the anions. Although a change in the long-range ordered structure of collagen is observed after covalent binding (Cr(III)-OOC) in the presence of SO4 2- at pH 4.5, the νsym (COO- ) band remains intense, suggesting a relatively lower propensity for the Cr(III) to bind covalently instead of electrostatically through Cr(H2 O)6 3+ . Replacing SO4 2- with Cl- reduces the kosmotropic effect which further favors the electrostatic binding of Cr(III) to collagen. Our findings allow a greater understanding of mechanism-specific metal binding in the collagen molecule. We also report for the first time, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy to analyze binding mechanisms in collagen, suggesting a novel way to study chemical modifications in collagen-based biomaterials.
Keywords: chromium; collagen structure; covalent binding; electrostatic interactions; ions.
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