Investigation of Photo-Induced Actuation Achieved Through Electro-Spun PLA/MWCNT Nanocomposite Fibers for Artificial Skeletal Muscle Fabrication
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Date
2022
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Introduction: One of the major challenges in the medical industry is the area of technical
orthopedics. Technical orthopedics is a branch of rehabilitation engineering that deals with the
design of artificial limbs for people with physical disabilities. Plenty of materials and methods
have been presented to the scientific community so far, but there still is a considerable gap in
replacing the function of human skeletal muscle. This research project deals with the
morphological and thermo-mechanical analysis of a PLA/MWCNTs nanocomposite fiber that can
be applied as an actuator in the area of technical orthopedics, particularly for the fabrication of
artificial muscles.
Methodology: The characterization techniques output of the PLA/MWCNT nanocomposite fiber
has been provided by Martine Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. The morphological
characterization outputs from SEM technique making use of image analysis software Image J and
the mechanical characterization outputs from the Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) technique
by theoretical approach and mathematical approach through MATLAB are analyzed to compare
the behavior of actual human skeletal muscles with the proposed nanocomposite fiber.
Results and Discussion: The output of the SEM characterization analysis clearly showed that
there is Gaussian distribution of fiber diameter. Both manual and automated measurements were
performed and both presented a normal distribution function with equivalent measurements of 6.7
μm and 7.7 μm mean respectively. The Gaussian distribution shows that the fabricated nanocomposite
fiber has high reactivity with an external stimulus, in this case infrared radiation (IR).
As for the DMA, the storage modulus showed a significant change from 327MPa to 371 MPa &
the loss modulus increased from 62.5 MPa to 76.1 MPa up on the addition of MWCNT in the pure
PLA. This shows improved mechanical (Elastic and Viscous) behavior of the nanocomposite
fibers. The viscoelasticity of the fiber was also modeled by making use of the three element
(Standard Linear Solid) Model and the temperature dependent modulus change is presented in this
master thesis.
Conclusion and recommendation: From the results acquired, the fabricated nanocomposite
fibers showed properties that proved applicability for the fabrication of artificial human skeletal
muscle. The fibers can also further be used for the detailed study and analysis of several forms of
muscular malfunctions, such as, paralysis, cerebral palsy etc.
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Keywords
Technical Orthopedics, Nanocomposite, Viscoelasticity