title: Nanomechanical characterization of micro/nanofiber reinforced type I collagens.
abstract: To function properly in the rigorous tissue environment, implanted scaffolds for tissue engineering are required to meet certain standards of strength and mechanical integrity. However, the soft nature and moisture condition of biomaterials impose great challenges to many existing techniques and instrumentations for measuring their mechanical properties at micro/nano scale. In this work, we demonstrate the testing methodologies of micro/nano fiber reinforced type I collagens, and obtain basic mechanical property data of two types of modified collagens-micro carbon fiber reinforced collagen (MCFR) and nano collagen fiber reinforced collagen (NCFR). Results show that mechanical properties of collagen tissues can be enhanced by reinforcing nano collagen fibers but weakened by micro carbon fiber reinforcements. Mechanisms are discussed on how natures of reinforcing fibers affect reinforcement to the collagen matrix, as well as how reinforcements behave within the collagen matrix in response to mechanical strain.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA.
authors: Xinnan
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Yongda
authors: Y
authors: Yan
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Yost
authors: Stephen A
authors: SA
authors: Fann
authors: Shen
authors: S
authors: Dong
authors: Xiaodong
authors: X
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004548:Elasticity; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I