Characterization of the Mechanical Properties of the Cortex Region of Human Hair Fibers by Multiparametric Atomic Force Microscopy Mapping

    May 2024 in “ Ultramicroscopy ”
    Raissa Lima de Oblitas, Flávio Bueno Camargo, Wagner Vidal Magalhães, F. S. Teixeira, M. C. Salvadori
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    TLDR Atomic Force Microscopy is a more accurate way to assess hair damage and the effect of cosmetic treatments.
    The study investigated the mechanical properties of human hair fibers, specifically the cortex region, using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in force volume mode. The researchers examined both chemically damaged hair (through bleaching) and hair without chemical damage, with and without cosmetic treatment. The results showed a significant decrease in the natural logarithm of Young's modulus (ln(E)) mean value for chemically damaged fibers. The study concluded that AFM provides a more accurate method to evaluate hair damage and the performance of cosmetic treatments, offering detailed information about the hair's structure.
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      research Mechanical Properties Characterization of Human Hair Fibers Cortex Region by Multiparametric Atomic Force Microscopy Mapping

      October 2021 in “Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo)”
      This study utilized Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to evaluate the effectiveness of a cosmetic active ingredient in improving the mechanical properties of human hair fibers. The research compared virgin hair fibers with chemically damaged ones, treated with and without the active ingredient. The AFM analysis revealed that the control group showed a significant decrease in the natural logarithm of the Young's modulus (ln(E)) compared to virgin fibers, while the active ingredient group showed an increase in ln(E) compared to both the control and placebo groups. This indicated that the active ingredient effectively improved the Young's modulus of damaged fibers. Additionally, a radial decrease in ln(E) was observed in the active group, consistent with Confocal Raman Spectroscopy results, suggesting varied active ingredient permeation. The study highlighted the advantage of FV-AFM analysis over traditional Tensile Tester methods, which did not show significant differences between groups. A correlation was found between decreased ln(E) and higher adhesion forces, possibly due to distinct adhesive structures with low cystine content.