NIRT: Enhancing the Properties of Nanoscale Electrospun Polymer Fibers thru Chemical Architecture, Surface Texturing Optimization Processing Protocols

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This Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Team (NIRT), co-funded by the Divisions of Materials Research (DMR), Chemical and Transport Systems (CTS) and Design, Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation (DMII) will use genetically directed synthetic methods to permit exact control of the placement (at intervals of .6 nm, 1.0 nm, and/or 1.6 nm) of reactive chemical groups along a polypeptide backbone. These reactive groups will be both biologically active and electroactive providing novel materials for processing into fibers via electrospinning techniques. The fiber morphology, which will be varied by a judicious choice of processing conditions, will be characterized by electron microscopy, small angle neutron scattering and Raman spectroscopy. Mechanical properties of individual fibers will be evaluated using MEMS and NEMS devices while the biological activity of the electrospun fiber mats will be investigated by cell incubation studies.%%%The results of these investigations will provide molecular design rules for future biomaterial constructs and will lead to a new generation of tissue scaffold materials for wound repair. The hybrid bio-electronic materials that result will address some of the lifetime and brightness issues for next generation flat panel computer displays that are critical for future industrial manufacturing. The integration of this research and education through externship experiences at DuPont and the development of new courses on nanomaterials design and processing will provide knowledge and an experience base that will equip students with the work-force ready skills critically needed by industry.***