The research objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program project is to study the mesoscale (1) structure, (2) dynamics and (3) functionality of electrospun nanofibers by mimicking the protein-guided mineralization of extracellular matrix in skeletal tissue. The research will develop nanofiber-architectural composite constructs for enhanced mechanical properties and functionality. Highly aligned nanofibers derived from synthetic polymers will be spun to controlled diameters. The morphology, mechanical and deformation characteristics of the nanofibers will be extensively evaluated. A cross disciplinary team of structural biologists, polymer physicists, and orthopedics will assess the functionality of the materials studied for use in biological applications.
If successful, this work will enable understanding of polymer processing of synthetic equivalents of natural materials using interlocking polymer-ceramics. It will produce urgently needed empirical data in the mesoscale domain that cannot be otherwise obtained by modeling or modeling of natural species using either known properties of the bulk samples or purely theoretical values from atomistic or molecular simulations. It will have impact on stretching, patterning, imprinting of micro-, nano, and meso-scale polymeric components and thus enable future processing of polymeric devices using electrospinning techniques. The efforts will address the abrupt change in mechanical strength, modulus and toughness at a critical length scale of polymer fiber diameter. It will subsequently lead to evolution of a new paradigm for fabricating miniaturized organic-matrix composites. By integrating life sciences with a traditional mechanical engineering curriculum, the project will be a new and unique way to provide motivation for learning.
