The first portion of this thesis assesses the structural application of a bracing design inspired by the deep-sea sponge, Euplectella Aspergillum. Many studies have investigated the natural strength found in the unique skeletal structure of this species. The braced design inspired by the sponge features square frames with two sets of cross-braces that are offset from the corners of each frame, creating a pattern of open and closed cells. This study reports the results of multiple Finite Element Analysis (FEA) computations that compare the described bracing pattern to a more common bracing design used in structural design. The designs are compared in two configurations; the first is a simplified tall building design, and the second is a slender plate design. Results indicate that the sponge’s natural pattern produces considerable mechanical benefit when only considering elastic behavior. However, the same was not true when considering plastic material properties. In conclusion to these observations, the sponge-inspired lattice design is determined to be an efficient alternative to slender-solid plates but not for lateral-resisting systems intended for tall building design. The second topic of discussion in this thesis concerns the stability of thin cylindrical shells with imperfections. The structural stability of these members is highly sensitive to the size and shape of an imperfection. An accurate prediction of the capacity of an imperfect cylindrical shell can be determined using non-destructive testing techniques. This method does require previous knowledge of the characteristics of the imperfection, which realistically is unknown. In the hope of creating a technique to find the location of an imperfection, this study analyzes the trends in the stability landscapes of the surrounding area of an imperfection. The imperfection of interest in this study has an amplitude equivalent to the thickness of the shell. Using FEA to simulate non-destructive probing tests, it is established that there is a distinct area surrounding the imperfection where the axial load and peak probe force curves show the influence of the imperfection. This area is referred to as the zone of influence and can be used to create an efficient process to locate an imperfection on a thin cylindrical shell.

The exceptional flying characteristics of airborne insects motivates the design of biomimetic wing structures that can exhibit a similar structural dynamic behavior. For this purpose, this investigation describes a method for both manufacturing a biomimetic insect-sized wing using the photolithography technique and analyzing its structural dynamic response. The geometry of a crane fly forewing (family Tipulidae) is acquired using a micro-computed tomography scanner. A computer-aided design model is generated from the measurements of the reconstructed scanned model of the insect wing to design the photomasks of the membrane and the venation network required for the photolithography procedure. A composite material wing is manufactured by patterning the venation network using photoresist SU-8 on a Kapton film for the assembling of the wing. A single material artificial wing is fabricated using the photoresist SU-8 for both the membrane and the network of veins. Experiments are conducted using a modal shaker and a digital image correlation (DIC) system to determine the natural frequencies and the mode shapes of the artificial wing from the fast Fourier transform of the displacement response of the wing. The experimental results are compared with those from a finite element (FE) model of the wing. A numerical simulation of the fluid-structure interaction is conducted by coupling the FE model of the artificial wing with a computational fluid dynamics model of the surrounding airflow. From these simulations, the deformation response and the coefficients of drag and lift of the artificial wing are predicted for different freestream velocities and angles of attack. Wind-tunnel experiments are conducted using the DIC system to determine the structural deformation response of the artificial wing under different freestream velocities and angles of attack. The vibration modes are dominated by a bending and torsional deformation response. The deformation along the span of the wing increases nonlinearly from the root of the wing to the tip of the wing with Reynolds number. The aerodynamic performance, defined as the ratio of the coefficient of lift to the coefficient of drag, of the artificial wing increases with Reynolds number and angle of attack up to the critical angle of attack.

Mucin networks are formed by the complexation of bottlebrush-like mucin glycoprotein with other small molecule glycoproteins. These glycoproteins create nanoscale strands that then arrange into a nanoporous mesh. These networks play an important role in ensuring surface hydration, lubricity and barrier protection. In order to understand the functional behavior in mucin networks, it is important to decouple their chemical and physical effects responsible for generating the fundamental property-function relationship. To achieve this goal, we propose to develop a synthetic biomimetic mucin using a layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition approach. In this work, a hierarchical 3-dimensional structures resembling natural mucin networks was generated using affinity-based interactions on synthetic and biological surfaces. Unlike conventional polyelectrolyte-based LBL methods, pre-assembled biotin-functionalized filamentous (worm-like) micelles was utilized as the network building block, which from complementary additions of streptavidin generated synthetic networks of desired thickness. The biomimetic nature in those synthetic networks are studied by evaluating its structural and bio-functional properties. Structurally, synthetic networks formed a nanoporous mesh. The networks demonstrated excellent surface hydration property and were able capable of microbial capture. Those functional properties are akin to that of natural mucin networks. Further, the role of synthetic mucin as a drug delivery vehicle, capable of providing localized and tunable release was demonstrated. By incorporating antibacterial curcumin drug loading within synthetic networks, bacterial growth inhibition was also demonstrated. Thus, such bioactive interfaces can serve as a model for independently characterizing mucin network properties and through its role as a drug carrier vehicle it presents exciting future opportunities for localized drug delivery, in regenerative applications and as bio-functional implant coats.

Systemic inflammation involves a complex array of cytokines that can result in organ dysfunction. Mortality remains high despite the vast amount of research conducted to find an effective biomarker. The cause of systemic inflammation can be broad and non-specific; therefore, this research investigates using transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements to better define systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)/sepsis within a patient. Results show a difference in TEER measurements between healthy individuals and SIRS-rated patients. This research also displays correlations between TEER measurements and biomarkers currently studied with systemic inflammation (tumor necrosis factor-α, C- reactive protein, procalcitonin). Furthermore, this research also presents the groundwork for developing a microfluidic cell-based biosensor using low temperature co-fired ceramic materials. An LTCC TEER-based microfluidic device has the potential to aid in a more effective treatment strategy for patients and potentially save lives.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) coatings are used in orthopaedic surgery for bone regeneration. Current methods of phase quantification of HAP coatings suffer from drawbacks. A novel methodology of quantitative phase analysis of HAP coatings has been devised and validated. This method, based on whole pattern fitting with a fundamental parameters approach, incorporates amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and apatite phases into structural refinements. A comparison of the structural and chemical properties of plasma sprayed (PS) and novel electrodeposited (ED) HAP coatings has been conducted. ED coatings contained less ACP and more preferred orientation than the PS coatings, although the stoichiometry was similar. In vitro investigations of PS and ED coatings in simulated body fluid and foetal calf serum revealed that both are bioactive. A carbonated apatite layer produced on the ED coatings was -0.7μm thick with a stoichiometry and chemical constituents similar to that of natural bone apatite. PS coatings produced a nanocrystalline carbonated apatite layer (-4μm). For the first time it has been possible to model crystalline HAP and nanocrystalline apatite as independent phases and obtain accurate lattice parameters for each. A positive linear correlation has been made between microstrain and the solubility of HAP and carbonated apatites. Dissolution studies have shown that the behaviour of HAP and carbonated apatite is dominated by crystallite size at low undersaturation and by crystallite size and microstrain at high undersaturation for crystallites between -30OA- 1000A. Metastable equilibrium occurred for crystallites <_400A at low undersaturation. Carbonate content did not affect the solubility or dissolution behaviour. A novel technology for coating polymeric tape with HAP for potential use in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has been devised. Mechanical tests have demonstrated that no adverse properties are induced by the coating technology. Cell culture studies have shown that the HAP layer is capable of enhanced attachment, proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast cells compared to uncoated tape.

Injury to bone is one of the most prevalent and costly medical conditions. Clinical treatment of volumetric bone loss or hard-to-heal bony lesions often requires the use of proper bone grafting materials, with or without adjuvant anabolic therapeutics. Despite significant problems associated with autografting (donor site morbidity, limited supplies) and allografting (disease transmissions, high graft failure rates) procedures, synthetic bone grafts remain the least utilized clinically. Existing synthetic orthopaedic biomaterials rarely possess a combination of bone-like structural and biochemical properties required for robust osteointegration, scalable and user-friendly characteristics indispensable for successful clinical translations. This thesis tests the hypothesis that by recapitulating key structural elements and biochemical components of bone in 3- and 2-dimensional biomaterials, scalable synthetic bone grafts can be designed to enable expedited healing of hard-to-heal volumetric bone loss. Specifically, FlexBone, a 3-dimensional hydrogel scaffold encapsulating 50 wt% of structurally well integrated nanocrylstalline hydroxyapatite, the main inorganic component of bone, was developed. The large surface area of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite combined with its intrinsic affinity to proteins and its excellent structural integration with the hydrogel matrix enabled FlexBone to both sequester endogenous protein signals upon press-fitting into an area of skeletal defect and to deliver exogenous protein therapeutics in a localized and sustained manner. We demonstrated that FlexBone enabled the functional healing of critical-size long bone defects in rats in 8 – 12 weeks with the addition of a very low dose of osteogenic growth factor BMP-2/7. This promising synthetic bone graft is now being explored for the delivery of multiple growth factors to expedite the healing of diabetic bony lesions. In addition, a 2-dimensional electrospun cellulose fibrous mesh was chemically modified with sulfate residues to mimic sulfated polysaccharide ECM components of skeletal tissues to enabled progenitor cell attachment and differentiation as well as controlled retention and localized/sustained delivery of protein therapeutics. This sulfated fibrous mesh is currently explored as synthetic periosteum to augment the osteointegration of devitalized structural allografts. Finally, a rat subcutaneous implantation model developed to examine the biocompatibility of newly developed biodegradable shape memory polymer bone substitutes is also presented.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) possess large surface areas and ample pore space that can be readily modified with specific functional groups for targeted binding of bioactive materials to be transported through cellular barriers. Engineered silica nanoparticles (ESNP) have been used extensively to deliver bio-active materials to target intracellular sites, including as non-viral vectors for nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) delivery such as for siRNA induced interference. The reverse process guided by the same principles is called “nanoharvesting”, where valuable biomolecules are carried out and separated from living and functioning organisms using nano-carriers. This dissertation focuses on ESNP design principles for both applications. To investigate the bioactive materials loading, the adsorption of antioxidant flavonoids was investigated on titania (TiO2) functionalized MSNPs (mean particle diameter ~170 nm). The amount of flavonoid adsorbed onto particle surface was a strong function of active group (TiO2) grafting and a 100-fold increase in the adsorption capacity was observed relative to nonporous particles with similar TiO2 coverage. Active flavonoid was released from the particle surface using citric acid-mediated ligand displacement. Afterwards, nanoharvesting of flavonoids from plant hairy roots is demonstrated using ESNP in which TiO2 and amine functional groups are used as specific binding sites and positive surface charge source, respectively. Isolation of therapeutics was confirmed by increased pharmacological activity of the particles. After nanoharvesting, roots are found to be viable and capable of therapeutic re-synthesis. In order to identify the underlying nanoparticle uptake mechanism, TiO2 content of the plant roots was quantified with exposure to nanoparticles. Temperature (4 or 23 °C) dependent particle recovery, in which time dependent release of ESNP from plant cells showed a similar trend, indicated an energy independent process (passive transport). To achieve the selective separation and nanoharvesting of higher value therapeutics, amine functionalized MSNPs were conjugated with specific functional oligopeptides using a hetero-bifunctional linker. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to confirm and determine binding efficiency using fluorescently attached peptides. Binding of targeted compounds was confirmed by solution depletion using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The conjugation strategy is generalizable and applicable to harvest the pharmaceuticals produced in plants by selecting a specific oligopeptide that mimic the appropriate binding sites. For related gene delivery applications, the thermodynamic interaction of amine functionalized MSNPs with double-stranded (ds) RNA was investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The heat of interaction was significantly different for particles with larger pore size (3.2 and 7.6 nm) compared to that of small pore particles (1.6 nm) and nonporous particles. Interaction of dsRNA also depended on molecular length, as longer RNA (282 base pair) was unable to load into 1.6 nm particles, consistent with previous confocal microscopy observations. Calculated thermodynamic parameters (enthalpy, entropy and free energy of interaction) are essential to design pore size dependent dsRNA loading, protection and delivery using MSNP carriers. While seemingly diverse, the highly tunable nature of ESNP and their interactions with cells are broadly applicable, and enable facile nano-harvesting and delivery based on a continuous uptake-expulsion mechanism.

This study produced cross-laminated timber panels at a range of four lamina thickness (5/8, 1, 1 1/8, and 1 1/4 inch) and three bonding pressures (50, 125, 200 psi), producing a total of 12 panels for mechanical testing. The goal of this study is to observe how the thickness and pressure trends affect the mechanical properties of CLT. Tests include flatwise bending, flatwise shear, internal-bond, and delamination. Results showed that bending MOE decreases as the panel thickness increases while bonding pressure had no significance. Bending MOR was less significant for the thickness and more significant for pressure compared to the MOE. Shear tests showed strong inverse relationship between MOR and thickness while increasing pressure strongly increased MOR. Internal-bond testing showed no clear relationship between thickness or pressure. Delamination decreased as a result of higher pressures while thickness had no significant affect.

Advances in the biomedical field require functional materials and processes that can lead to devices that are biocompatible, and biodegradable while maintaining high performance and mechanical conformability. In this context, a current shift in focus is towards natural polymers as not only the structural but also functional components of such devices. This poses material-specific functionalization and fabrication related questions in the design and fabrication of such systems. Silk protein biopolymers from the silkworm show tremendous promise in this regard due to intrinsic properties: mechanical performance, optical transparency, biocompatibility, biodegradability, processability, and the ability to entrap and stabilize biomolecules. The unique ensemble of properties indicates opportunities to employ this material into numerous biomedical applications. However, specific processing, functionalization, and fabrication techniques are required to make a successful transition from the silk cocoon to silk-based devices. This research is focused on these challenges to form silk-based functional material and devices for application in areas of therapeutics, bio-optics, and bioelectronics. To make silk proteins mechanically conformable to biological tissues, the first exploration is directed towards the realization of precisely micro-patterned silk proteins in flexible formats. The optical properties of silk proteins are investigated by showing the angle-dependent iridescent behavior of micropatterned proteins, and developing soft micro-optical devices for light concentration and focusing. The optical characteristics and fabrication process reported in the work can lead to the future application of silk proteins in flexible optics and electronics. The microfabrication process of silk proteins is further extended to form shape-defined silk protein microparticles. Here, the specificity of shape and the ability to form monodisperse shapes can be used as shape encoded efficient cargo and contrast agents. Also, these particles can efficiently entrap and stabilize biomolecules for drug delivery and bioimaging applications. Next, a smart confluence of silk sericin and a synthetic functional polymer PEDOT:PSS is shown. The composite materials obtained have synergistic effects from both polymers. Silk proteins impart biodegradability and patternability, while the intrinsically conductive PEDOT:PSS imparts electrical conductivity and electrochemical activity. Conductive micro architectures on rigid as well as flexible formats are shown via a green, water-based fabrication process. The applications of the composite are successfully demonstrated by realizing biosensing and energy storage devices on rigid or flexible forms. The versatility of the approach will lead to the development of a variety of applications such as in bio-optics, bioelectronics, and in the fundamental study of cellular bio electrogenic environments. Finally, to expand the applicability of reported functional polymers and composites beyond the microscale, a method for silk nano-patterning via electron beam lithography is explored. The technique enables one-step fabrication of user defined structures at the submicron and nano-scales. By virtue of acrylate chemistry, a very low energetic beam and dosage are required to form silk nano-architectures. Also, the process can form both positive and negative features depending on the dosage. The fabrication platform can also form nano scale patterns of the conductive composite. The conductive measurements confirm the formation of conductive nanowires and the ability of silk sericin to entrap PEDOT:PSS particles in nanoscale features.

This research used a focused ion beam in order to fabricate record small nano-magnetic structures, investigate the properties of magnetic materials in the rarely studied range of nanometer size, and exploit their extraordinary characteristics in medicine and nano-electronics. This study consists of two parts: (i) Fabrication and study of record small magnetic tunnel junctions (ii) Introduction of a novel method for detection of magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENs) in the tissue. A key challenge in further scaling of CMOS devices is being able to perform non-volatile logic with near zero power consumption. Sub-10-nm nanomagnetic spin transfer torque (STT) magnetic tunneling junctions (MTJs) have the potential for a universal memory that can address this key challenge. The main problem is to decrease the switching current density. This research studied these structures in sub-10-nm size range. In this range, spin related excitations consume considerably smaller amounts of energy as compared to the larger scale. This research concluded that as predicted a decrease in switching current superior to that of the linear scaling will happen in this size range. Magneto-electric nanoparticles (MENs) can be used to directly couple intrinsic electric-field-driven processes with external magnetic fields for controlling neural activity deep in the brain. These particles have been proven to be capable of inducing deep brain stimulation non-invasively. Furthermore, these magneto-electric nano-particles can be used for targeted drug delivery and are contenders to replace conventional chemotherapy. The circulatory system can deliver a drug to almost every cell in the body; however, delivering the drug specifically into the tumor cell and then releasing it on demand remains a formidable task. Nanomedicine can accomplish this, but ensuring that the drug is released at an appropriate rate once at the target site is an important task. In order to have a complete understanding of the behavior of these MENs when injected into the body, a comprehensive bio-distribution study was performed. This study introduced a novel spectroscopy method for tracing the nanoparticles in the bloodstream. This study investigated the post injection distribution of the MENs in vital organs throughout a period of two months.