Abstract

This exploratory R21 proposal is to build a novel microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device for direct measurement of the mechanical properties of a collagen fibril. Usually these properties are inferred from larger scale measurements' yielding model dependent results and making it difficult to sort out nanoscale from higher level structure-function relationships. The proposed device is a modification of an existing MEMS device originally designed to test silicon materials at the microscale. We have modified the design of the device for use with smaller specimens having lower moduli. The device fills in a gap between the piconewton level techniques used to measure single molecules and the millinewton devices commercially available for the study of micron to millimeter sized samples. Our group's use of the machine will be primarily to test collagen fibrils relevant to bone. However, we expect the device will have wide applicability in the study of extracellular matrix fibrils in tissues ranging from tendon and ligament to cartilage and bone.
Specific Aims 1. Design and fabricate a Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) useful for testing nanofibrils 2. Develop and implement protocols for attaching nanofibrils to MEMS device 3. Test device and protocols using collagen fibrils.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21EB004985-02
Application #
7140188
Study Section
Skeletal Biology Structure and Regeneration Study Section (SBSR)
Program Officer
Korte, Brenda
Project Start
2005-09-15
Project End
2009-08-31
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2009-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$183,265
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Case Western Reserve University
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
077758407
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44106

  Publications

Shen, Zhilei Liu; Kahn, Harold; Ballarini, Roberto et al. (2011) Viscoelastic properties of isolated collagen fibrils. Biophys J 100:3008-15
Tang, Yuye; Ballarini, Roberto; Buehler, Markus J et al. (2010) Deformation micromechanisms of collagen fibrils under uniaxial tension. J R Soc Interface 7:839-50
Shen, Zhilei Liu; Dodge, Mohammad Reza; Kahn, Harold et al. (2010) In vitro fracture testing of submicron diameter collagen fibril specimens. Biophys J 99:1986-95
Shen, Zhilei L; Dodge, Mohammad Reza; Kahn, Harold et al. (2008) Stress-strain experiments on individual collagen fibrils. Biophys J 95:3956-63
Eppell, S J; Smith, B N; Kahn, H et al. (2006) Nano measurements with micro-devices: mechanical properties of hydrated collagen fibrils. J R Soc Interface 3:117-21