Determining Single Fiber Nanomechanical Properties of Electrospun Protein Fibers and Modified Fibrin Fibers Using Atomic Force Microscopy

The extracellular matrix is comprised mostly of collagen, the most abundant protein in the body. This protein helps to provide the structural support for various tissues such as skin, muscles, tendons, and even heart valves and blood vessels. Fibrinogen is the most abundant protein found in blood plasma. After exposure to thrombin, it is converted to fibrin, and provides the structural support of a blood clot. These natural polymers, along with synthetic polymers, can be synthesized outside the body by a process known as electrospinning. Electrospinning can be used to make nanofibers which form the macrostructure scaffold to be tailored to specific applications. The mechanical properties

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Baker, Stephen Robert

• Atomic Force Microscopy

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/57263

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/57263