Fingerprints provide clue for new nanofiber fabrication technique
 Fingerprints are usually used to identify people but, this time, they gave Penn State chemical engineers the crucial clue needed to discover an easy, versatile new method for making nanofibers that have potential uses in advanced filtration as well as wound care, drug delivery, bioassays and other medical applications. The new technique is based on the way forensic scientists develop fingerprints from a crime scene and is easier and more versatile than either of the current methods, templates or electrospinning, used commercially to make nanofibers.The first nanofibers generated by the technique are made from the basic ingredient of Super Glue. Henry C. Foley, professor of chemical engineering who directed the project, says, "The new technique is so versatile that it allows us not only to make nano-scale fibers but also  nano-sized flat sheets, spheres and even wrinkled sheets that look tortellini-like."The researchers can also generate patterned surfaces and say that the process could conceivably be used in an ink jet printer.The research is detailed in a paper, "Facile Catalytic Growth of Cyanoacrylate Nanofibers," published online on January 26 in the British journal, The Royal Society of Chemistry, Chemical Communications. The authors are Pratik J. Mankidy, doctoral candidate in chemical engineering; Ramakrishnan Rajagopalan, research associate at Penn State's Materials Research Laboratory, and Foley, who is also associate vice president for research at the University. This was seized 4 u at The Pennsylvania State University |
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