Micro/Nano Biomechanical Characterization Lab
Lab Members
Jiayi Shi (Graduate Student)
Xin Wang (Graduate Student)
Guangxu Li (Graduate Student)
Michael Robitaille(Graduate Student)
Masoud Khabiry (Graduate Student)
Former Lab Members
Edgar Montiel (MS)
Zong Zong (Post-doctorate Researcher)
Overview
The Nano/Micro-Scale Biomechanical Characterization Laboratory at the Northeastern University Mechanical Engineering Department is headed by Associate Professor Kai-Tak Wan, and is home to a wide variety of interdisciplinary research and experiments located in 243a Forsyth Building.
The primary focus of our research is on contact mechanics and ahesion at the nano and micro scale, a large part of which focuses on bridging the gap between biological and mechanical sciences. Broadly, our lab is currently exploring the areas of biomechanics of cells and bacteria, modeling adhesion between cells, adhesion between thin graphene films, mechanically characterizing cancerous cells for efficient drug delivery, and characterizing hydrogels for biomedical applications.
Lab Facilities
Agilent T150 Universal Testing Machine (UTM)
The UTM is a state-of-the-art testing machine capable of nano-Newton and nanometer precision, offering a wide variety of means of nanomechanical characterization. Tensile, indentation, shaft-loaded blister are a few types of methods that can be used to characterize metals, biomaterials, gels, etc. to extract their mechanical properties.
Agilent Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)
This high precision AFM is capbable of nanometer force and spacial resolution in contact, MAC, AAC modes. The AFM is also equipped with an evironmental chamber to control temperature and humidity. Currently the AFM is used to characterize biological cells, gels, and graphene thin films.
Microscopes
Our lab hosts two high powered Olympus microscopes (GX & BX series). These microscopes can be used in conjunction with our AFM, micormanipulators, and are also capable of Differential Interference Contrast microscopy (DIC).
Micromanipulator
The micromanipulator allows movements of four degrees of freedom (x, y, z, and theta) at a spatial resolution of one micron. This machine is currently used to help design custom made AFM tips with microspheres.
TA.XT Texture Analyzer
This versitile machine can perform virtually any mechanical characterization test, whether from standard accessories or custom rigged fixtures. It is capable of tensile, fracture, adhesive, three-point-bending, indentation, blister, peel, and needle tests on a wide variety of materials. Currently we utilize this machine to investigate hydrogels and biological samples.
Recent Group Journal Publications
1. Xin Wang, Johnny F. Najem, Shing-Chung Wong, Kai-tak Wan, "A Nano-Cheese-Cutter to Directly Measure Interfacial Adhesion of Freestanding Nano-Fibers", Journal of Applied Physics, in press (2012).
2. Jiayi Shi, Sinan Muftu, KT Wan, "Adhesion of a Compliant Cylindrical Shell onto a Rigid Substrate", Journal of Applied Mechanics, in press, (2011).
3. J Shi, M Robitaille, S Muftu, KT Wan, "Deformation of a Convex Hydrogel Shell by Parallel Plate and Central Compression" in press, Experimental Mechanics DOI 10.1007/s11340-011-9514-z (2011).
4. MC Robitaille, R Zareian, CA DiMarzio, KT Wan, JW Ruberti, "Small-angle light scattering to detect strain-directed collagen degradation in native tissue", Interface Focus 1 767-776 DOI:10.1008/rsfs.2011.0039 (2011).
5. J Shi, S Muftu, KT Wan, "Adhesion of an Elastic Convex Shell onto a Rigid Plate", Journal of Adhesion 87 579–594 DOI: 10.1080/00218464.2011.583587 (2011).
6. Q Shi, KT Wan, SC Wong, P Chen, TA Blackledge. "Do Electrospun Polymer Fibers Stick?" Langmuir 26 [17] 14188–14193 DOI: 10.1021/la1022328 (2010).
7. X Wang, AA Shah, RB Campbell, KT Wan, "Glycoprotein Mucin Molecular Brush on Cancer Cell Surface Acting as Mechanical Barrier against Drug Delivery", Applied Physics Letters 97, 263703 DOI:10.1063/1.3532847 (2010).
8. G Li, KT Wan. "Parameter governing thin film adhesion-delamination in the transition from DMT-limit to JKR-limit," Journal of Adhesion 86, 969–981, DOI: 10.1080/00218464.2010.515470 (2010).
9. G Duan, KT Wan, "'Pull-in' of a pre-stressed thin film by an electrostatic potential: A 1-D rectangular bridge and a 2-D circular diaphragm", International Journal of Mechanical Science 52 1158-1166 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2010.04.005 (2010).
10. C Majidi, KT Wan, "Adhesion between thin cylindrical shells with parallel axes", Journal of Applied Mechanics 77 041013 DOI: 10.1115/1.4000924 (2010).
11. Z Zong, CL Chen, MR Dokmeci, KT Wan, "Direct Measurement of Graphene Adhesion on Silicon Surface by Intercalation of Nano-Particles", Journal of Applied Physics 107 026104 DOI:10.1063/1.3294960 (2010).
12. G Li, KT Wan, "Delamination mechanics of a clamped rectangular membrane in the presence of long-range intersurface forces: Transition from JKR to DMT limits", Journal of Adhesion 86[3] 335-351 DOI: 10.1080/00218460903482531 (2010).
13. KT Wan, N Ravi, "Mechanics of ocular lens accommodation consistent with the classical Helmholtz theory", International Journal of Experimental and Computational Biomechanics 1[2] 193-203 (2009).
14. KT Wan, SE Julien, "Confined thin film delamination in the presence of intersurface forces with finite range and magnitude", Journal of Applied Mechanics 76 051005 DOI: 10.1115/1.3112745 (2009).
15. HK Singh, KT Wan, JG Dillard, DA Dillard, P Reboa, J Smith, E Chappell, A Sharan, "Subcritical Delamination in epoxy bonds to silicon and glass adherends: effects of temperature and preconditioning", Journal of Adhesion 84 619-637 DOI: 10.1080/00218460802255509 (2008).
16. KK Liu, KT Wan, "Multi-scale mechanical characterization of a freestanding polymer film using indentation", International Journal of Materials Research 99 [8] 862-864 DOI: 10.3139/146.101712 (2008).