Title :
Nanomanipulation and characterization of structural proteins
Author :
Layton, B.E. ; Gupta, R. ; Jackson, N.L. ; Shah, A.J. ; Stallcup, R.E., III ; Sullivan, S.M.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Mech. Eng. & Mech., Drexel Univ., Philadelphia, PA, USA
Abstract :
A methodology is presented for simultaneous mechanical testing and atomic force microscopy imaging of single collagen fibrils under load. This method holds the promise for determining single-fibril modulus and strength in various experimental preparations. Examples of this utility include characterization of deformation and failure modes of naturally occurring and engineered structural proteins. Additional promise of this technique is robotic surgery at the submicron scale for repairing neuronal tracts and capillaries with structural proteins. A series of algorithms for tying knots at the nanoscale in single fibrils is also presented.
Keywords :
atomic force microscopy; biological techniques; biomechanics; deformation; mechanical strength; mechanical testing; proteins; atomic force microscopy imaging; capillary repairing; deformation; mechanical testing; nanomanipulation; neuronal tract repairing; robotic surgery; single collagen fibrils; single-fibril modulus; single-fibril strength; structural proteins; Animals; Atomic force microscopy; Grippers; Humans; Nanobioscience; Optical fiber testing; Proteins; Surgery; Tail; Tendons; Nanomanipulation; collagen; knot; suture;
Conference_Titel :
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 2004. IEMBS '04. 26th Annual International Conference of the IEEE
Conference_Location :
San Francisco, CA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8439-3
DOI :
10.1109/IEMBS.2004.1403742