. 24/7 Space News .
INTERNET SPACE
Portable nanofiber device offers precise, point-and-shoot capability
by Staff Writers
Boston MA (SPX) Mar 03, 2017


These are scanning electron microscopy images of various scaffold structures and fiber alignments. Image courtesy Christophe Chantre/Harvard University.

Harvard researchers have developed a lightweight, portable nanofiber fabrication device that could one day be used to dress wounds on a battlefield or dress shoppers in customizable fabrics. The research was published recently in Macromolecular Materials and Engineering.

There are many ways to make nanofibers. These versatile materials - whose target applications include everything from tissue engineering to bullet proof vests - have been made using centrifugal force, capillary force, electric field, stretching, blowing, melting, and evaporation.

Each of these fabrication methods has pros and cons. For example, Rotary Jet-Spinning (RJS) and Immersion Rotary Jet-Spinning (iRJS) are novel manufacturing techniques developed in the Disease Biophysics Group at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering.

Both RJS and iRJS dissolve polymers and proteins in a liquid solution and use centrifugal force or precipitation to elongate and solidify polymer jets into nanoscale fibers. These methods are great for producing large amounts of a range of materials- - including DNA, nylon, and even Kevlar - but until now they haven't been particularly portable.

The Disease Biophysics Group recently announced the development of a hand-held device that can quickly produce nanofibers with precise control over fiber orientation. Regulating fiber alignment and deposition is crucial when building nanofiber scaffolds that mimic highly aligned tissue in the body or designing point-of-use garments that fit a specific shape.

"Our main goal for this research was to make a portable machine that you could use to achieve controllable deposition of nanofibers," said Nina Sinatra, a graduate student in the Disease Biophysics Group and co-first author of the paper. "In order to develop this kind of point-and-shoot device, we needed a technique that could produce highly aligned fibers with a reasonably high throughput."

The new fabrication method, called pull spinning, uses a high-speed rotating bristle that dips into a polymer or protein reservoir and pulls a droplet from solution into a jet. The fiber travels in a spiral trajectory and solidifies before detaching from the bristle and moving toward a collector.

Unlike other processes, which involve multiple manufacturing variables, pull spinning requires only one processing parameter - solution viscosity - to regulate nanofiber diameter. Minimal process parameters translate to ease of use and flexibility at the bench and, one day, in the field.

Pull spinning works with a range of different polymers and proteins. The researchers demonstrated proof-of-concept applications using polycaprolactone and gelatin fibers to direct muscle tissue growth and function on bioscaffolds, and nylon and polyurethane fibers for point-of-wear apparel.

"This simple, proof-of-concept study demonstrates the utility of this system for point-of-use manufacturing," said Kit Parker, the Tarr Family Professor of Bioengineering and Applied Physics and director of the Disease Biophysics Group.

"Future applications for directed production of customizable nanotextiles could extend to spray-on sportswear that gradually heats or cools an athlete's body, sterile bandages deposited directly onto a wound, and fabrics with locally varying mechanical properties."

INTERNET SPACE
Fairphone extends distribution network in Europe
Barcelona (AFP) March 2, 2017
Fairphone, a Dutch firm that makes ethical and environmentally friendly smartphones, said Thursday it is extending its distribution network in Europe. The company started off in 2010 raising awareness about the links between electronics and minerals mined in conflict zones, before deciding in 2013 to make and sell its own smartphones over the internet. Last year, the company reached agre ... read more

Related Links
Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Satellite-based Internet technologies


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


Comment on this article using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

INTERNET SPACE
NASA Releases Free Software Catalog

India has capability to develop space station, says top official

Orion spacecraft achieves key safety milestone

The NASA Imager Dentists Use Daily

INTERNET SPACE
Space squadron supports record-breaking satellites launch

Blue Origin shares video of New Glenn rocket

Europe launches fourth Earth monitoring satellite

Elon Musk: tech dreamer reaching for sun, moon and stars

INTERNET SPACE
New evidence for a water-rich history on Mars

Humans May Quickly Evolve on Mars, Biologist Claims

NASA Orbiter Steers Clear of Mars Moon Phobos

Remnants of a mega-flood on Mars

INTERNET SPACE
China launches experiment satellite "TK-1"

Riding an asteroid: China's next space goal

China's 1st cargo spacecraft to make three rendezvous with Tiangong-2

China to launch space station core module in 2018

INTERNET SPACE
How low can you go? New project to bring satellites nearer to Earth

Teal Group Pegs Value of Space Payloads Through 2036 at Over $250 Billion

Iridium Safety Voice Communications Installs Surge Past 500 Aircraft

Turkey Moves Closer to Launching Own Space Agency

INTERNET SPACE
Aireon and Thales Begin Validation of Space-Based ADS-B Data

Bubble-recoil could be used to cool microchips, even in space

Space surveillance radar system fully operational

Coffee-ring effect leads to crystallization control

INTERNET SPACE
Hunting for giant planet analogs in our own backyard

Biochemical 'fossil' shows how life may have emerged without phosphate

Faraway Planet Systems Are Shaped Like the Solar System

The missing link in how planets form

INTERNET SPACE
Juno to remain in current orbit at Jupiter

Europa Flyby Mission Moves into Design Phase

NASA receives science report on Europa lander concept

New Horizons Refines Course for Next Flyby









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.