Shape memory collagen scaffolds sustain large-scale cyclic loading

Natural biopolymer hydrogels often suffer from relatively low moduli and an inability to maintain structure and mechanics under cyclic loading, limiting their utility in dynamic mechanical environments. Here, a crosslinked collagen cryogel scaffold was fabricated by mechanical pre-compression to densify the network. Following lyophilization, the porous scaffolds maintained sustained >90% axial compressive strain with 200 cycles. Ogden hyperelastic modeling and second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging revealed that fiber alignment, densification, and strain-stiffening contributed to resilience under repetitive large-scale loading. After rehydration, crosslinked and densified hydrogels showed network stability and recoverability under cyclic loading, with a significantly reduced phase transition strain compared to non-crosslinked controls. The scaffolds supported cell encapsulation and maintained cell viability after 50 cycles of 90% compressive strain. Cyclic loading significantly den..., , # Shape memory collagen scaffolds sustain large-scale cyclic loading

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.zs7h44jnj](10.5061/dryad.zs7h44jnj)

## Description of the data and file structure

SEM images, axial compression data on rheometer, SHG images and FTIR data for crosslinked and uncrosslinked cryogel samples

### Files and variables

#### File: fig2_d_1.tif and fig2_d_2.tif

**Description**: SEM images for collagen fibers and fiber walls

#### Files: fig3_b_GA.csv, fig3_b_No_GA.csv, fig3_c_e-g_figS4_GA.csv, fig3_c_e-g_figS4_no_GA.csv

**Description**: 201 loops of axial compression on rheometer for 0.15GA and no GA crosslinked collagen cryogel samples

#### File: fig3_d.csv

**Description**: z-stack and skeletonized SHG images for cryogel compressed to 0%, 50% and 90%

#### Files:

* **fig4a_GA_pre-comp.csv**
* **fig4a_No_GA.csv**
* **fig4b-f_GA.csv**
* **fig4b-f_No_GA.csv**
* **fig4b-f_no_pre-comp.csv**
* **figS5a_GA_pre-comp.csv**
* **figS5a_GA.csv**
* **figS5a_No_GA.csv**
* **figS5b_No_G..., ,