Research Article

Polymer microfiber mechanical properties: A system for assessment and investigation of the link with fibrous capsule formation

  1. J. E. Sanders1,*,
  2. B. S. Nicholson1,
  3. S. B. Mitchell1,
  4. R. E. Ledger2

Article first published online: 7 NOV 2003

DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.20049

Issue

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A

Volume 67A, Issue 4, pages 1412–1416, 15 December 2003

Additional Information

How to Cite

Sanders, J. E., Nicholson, B. S., Mitchell, S. B. and Ledger, R. E. (2003), Polymer microfiber mechanical properties: A system for assessment and investigation of the link with fibrous capsule formation. J. Biomed. Mater. Res., 67A: 1412–1416. doi: 10.1002/jbm.a.20049

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Bioengineering, 357962, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195

  2. 2

    Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195

*Department of Bioengineering, 357962, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 NOV 2003
  2. Article first published online: 7 NOV 2003
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 22 JUL 2003
  4. Manuscript Revised: 8 JUL 2003
  5. Manuscript Received: 27 MAR 2003

Funded by

  • the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Grant Number: HD-39554
  • National Science Foundation. Grant Number: EEC-9529161

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Keywords:

  • polyethylene;
  • polyurethane;
  • polyester;
  • fibrous encapsulation;
  • modulus

Abstract

A novel microtensile testing instrument was developed to assess the mechanical properties of small-diameter polyethylene, polyurethane, and polyester microfibers. The instrument had a root-mean-square error of 2.96 μN for force measurement and 1.91 μm for displacement measurement. Microfibers ranging in diameter from 1.0 to 10.9 μm were strained at 2 mm/s in the device, and the slopes of their stress–strain curves (material moduli) were determined. Correlations between material modulus and previously published data on fibrous capsule presence and thickness for implanted polyethylene, polyurethane, and polyester microfibers were investigated. Results for the 1.0–5.9-μm microfiber diameter range showed that neither the percentage of unencapsulated fibers nor the capsule thickness correlated well with modulus. Correlation coefficients were 0.04 and 0.09, respectively. However, for the 6.0–10.9 μm diameter range the correlations were strong, 1.00 for both percentage of unencapsulated fibers and capsule thickness. It is suggested that the results reflect the greater attachment and mechanical interaction of cells with microfibers for the 6.0–10.9 μm-diameter range than for the 1.0–5.9 μm-diameter range. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 67A: 1412–1416, 2003

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