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Nano Composite Fibers
Nanofiber characterization is essential for exploring the potential applications of our nanofibers in the fields of biomedical, electronic, and electromechanical devices. Characterization of these structures poses special challenges when compared to standard tensile or bending tests due to manipulation difficulties and unattainable boundary conditions. Our group is exploring new approaches to attain fixed boundary conditions by using the STEP technique. Using high spatial resolution and force-sensing capabilities provided by the AFM and Nano-indenter, we have, and continue to explore a wide spectrum of mechanical properties including elastic modulus, ultimate strength, and failure.
Crosshatch Fiber Networks
Although many in vitro strategies (including by us) have demonstrated anisotropic migration using aligned geometries, the contributions of other configurations, including crosslinked networks of varied inter-fiber spacing, remain unclear. Here, using our previously reported nonelectrospinning spinneret-based tunable engineered parameters (STEP) technique, we use suspended nanofiber crosshatch networks of tunable interfiber spacing to interrogate the plasticity of single-cell migratory behavior and cytoskeleton arrangements.