The University of British Columbia

Research Interests

• Nanofibre Technology
• Biomaterials/Surgical Implants
• Textile Structural Composites

Nanofibre Technology

Nanofibres belong to a new class of fibrous materials having diameter equal to or less than 100 nm. Through a non-mechanical method of formation of nanoscale fibres electrostatically from polymer solutions or melts our research objective is to gain a fundamental understanding and investigate methods to produce nanofibres consistently and reproducibly. The ultimate goal of our research is to bridge the dimensional gap by electrospinning of multifunctional nanofibres and organize the nanofibres into linear, planar and 3-D fibrous assemblies for specific applications. We specifically focus our research in electroactive nanofibres; bioactive nanofibres; and multifunctional nanocomposite fibres. Examples of electroactive nanofibres being investigated include intrinsically conductive fibres such as polyethylenedioxythiolene(PEDT), polyaniline (PANi) and their blends. Bioactive nanofibres of interest are animal and plant based protein fibres (recombinant spider silk, silkworm silk, wool keratin, collagen, elastin, wheat gluten, corn zein etc) as well as biodegradable synthetic fibres (PLA, PGA, PLAGA). By co-electrospinning of nanoparticle, nanotubes and nanoplatelets with appropriate polymers a new family of multifunctional nanocompsoite fibres are being developed thus creating a new pathway to connect nanodimension, nanoeffects to macrostructures for a broad range of applications including energy storage, electronic devices, UHS sensors, ultra-strong lightweight composites.

Biomaterials/Surgical Implants

Building on a tradition of creative design and fabrication of fibre based surgical implants the Advanced Fibrous Materials Laboratory is dedicated to the development of a nanofibre platform for tissue engineering scaffolds for orthopedic(ligament, tendon etc), vascular (small diameter arteries, stents) and neural prostheses (brain machine interface). Of fundamental interest is the understanding of the dynamic interaction between biological cells and fibrous scaffolds at various hierarchical length scales. Through biomimetic design a family of protein nanofibres from silk fibroin and wool keratin polymers as well as collagens and elastins has been developed. Research work has also been initiated on self-expandable drug loaded polymer stents and compliance neural prostheses. To facilitate detection cells and surgical implants are labeled with quantum dot as well as other nanoparticles by co-electrosping to create fluorescent and magnetic nanofibres and threads.

Textile Structural Composites

Textile structural composites are composites reinforced by textile structures dedicated for load bearing applications. With a focus on the engineering design and manufacturing science of complex 3-D fiber architecture the research of the Advanced Fibrous Materials group, having a symbiotic relation with the AMPEL composite group, spans over a broad range of length scales including large diameter braiding to micro and nanosacle braiding and nanofibre placement. An example of our research is to combine textile preforming process with composite formation process as illustrated in the Briadtrusion process by combining the braiding with pultrusion. Through hybridization and gradient design a major emphasis of our research is the development of high damage tolerant and damage resistant fibre-based structures for armors as well as vehicle safety products. To facilitate communication between structural design engineers and textile manufacturing technologists a Fabric Geometry Model has been developed thus creating a framework for the integration of design for manufacturing of textile structural composites.

Facilities

Electrospinning stations (5 units)
Microtensile tester
Micro braider
Braidtrusion line
Computer controlled 2D and 3-D braiders

Refereed Journal

1. Guo, Y., Mylonakis, A., Wei, Y., P. I. Lelkes, P.I., Ko, F.K., Li, S., and Feng, Q. Aniline-contained Electroactive silsesquioxane precursor for synthesizing novel siliceous materials, manuscript submitted for publication. (2009)
2. Lin Li, Yi Li, Jiashen Li, Lei Yao, Arthur F. T. Mak, Frank Ko, and Ling Qin, Antibacterial Properties of Nanosilver PLLA Fibrous Membranes, Journal of Nanomaterials, Volume 2009 (2009)
3. Milind Gandhi, Heejae Yang, Lauren Shor, Frank Ko, Post-spinning modification of electrospun nanofiber nanocomposite from Bombyx mori silk and carbon nanotubes, Polymer 50 (2009) 1918–1924
4. Ko, F.K., Textile Composites for Automotive Structural Components, Chapter 15. In Textiles for Automotive applications, R. Shisho, editor, Woodhead Publishing, 2008
5. Ko, F.K and Gandhi, M.R., Producing nanofiber structures by elecrospining for tissue engineering, in Nanofibers and nanotechnology in textiles, edited by Brown, P.J., and Stevens, K., Woodhead Publishing, 2007
6. Yang, H, Ko, F.K., Shih W.H., and Yamashita, Y., Multifunctional nanoparticle reinforced nanofibers by electrospinning, Proceedings, ICCM 16, 2007
7. Dillon, D.R., Tenneti, K.K., Li, C.Y., Ko, F.K., Sics, I. and Hsiao, B.S. (2006). On the Structure and Morphology of Polyvinylidene Fluoride–Nanoclay Nanocomposites, Polymer, 47: 1678–1688
8. Orlovskaya, N., Lugovy, M., Ko, F., Yarmolenko, S., Sankar, J., and Kuebler, J., SiC/SiC Laminates: Design, Manufacturing, mechanical properties, Composites Part B: 37(2006) 524-529
9. J.J. Mack, L.M. Viculis, A. Ali, R. Luoh, G. Yang, H.T. Hahn, F.K. Ko, R.B. Kaner, Graphite Nanoplatelet Reinforcement of Electrospun Polyarylonitrile Nanofibers, Adv. Mater. 2005, 17, No.1, January 6
10. Ye, Haihui, Titchenal, N., Gogotsi, Y., and Ko, F.K., SiC nanowire Synthesized fromElectrospun Nanofiber Templates, Adv. Mater. 2005, 17, No.12, 1531-1535, June 7.
11. Sukigara, S, Gandhi, M., Ayutsede, J, Micklus, M., and Ko, F., “Regeneration of Bombyx mori silk by electrospinning- Part 2: Processing optimization and empirical modeling using response surface methodology;” Polymer 45, (2004 ) 3701-3708
12. Katti, D., Robinson, K., Ko, F.K., and Laurencin, C.T., “Bioresorbable Nanofiber-based Systems for Wound Healing and Drug Delivery: Optimization of Fabrication Parameters”, J. Biomed . Mat. Res. 2004, 70B: 286-296
13. Li, M., Mondrinos, M.J., Gandhi,M., Ko, F.K., Weiss, A.S., and Lelkes, P.L., “Electrospun Protein Fibers as Matrices for Tissue Engineering”, Bioimaterials, Submitted November 6, 2004
14. Ko, F.k., and Jovicic, J., Modeling of mechanical properties and structural design of spider web, Biomacromolecules, Vol. 5, No. 3, 2004
15. Ye, H. Lam, H, Titchenal, N, Gogotsi Y, and Ko, F., Reinforcement and rupture behavior of carbon nanotube-polymer nanofibers, Applied Physics Letters, Vol.85,No.9, 2004.

Conference

1. Electrostatically Generated Electroactive Nanofibers and Nanocomposites, EECE 301, February 3, 2009
2. Textile Composites, Lectures at 2009 AMTAS Spring Institute on Advanced Aircraft Composites, March 26, 2009
3. Electrospinning of functional composite nanofibres, CREPEC Seminar, Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, June 11, 2009
4. Textile structural composites, CREPEC Seminar, Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal, June 12, 2009
5. Electrospinning of carbon nanotube reinforced bamboo nanofibres, TAPPI Conference on Nanotechology, June 25, 2009.
6. Hierarchical Structure and Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Fibrils, ICCM, Scotland, July 27-32, 2009
7. Liquid Crytalline Electrospinning of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Cellulose Fibres from Bamboo, Mt Fuji Conference, August 3-4, 2009
8. Functional Composite Nanofibers for Nonwovens , INTC Keynote Lecture, Denver, CO, September 23, 2009
9. Recent Progress in Carbon Nanotube Fibers and Yarns, SAMPE Fall Technical Conference, Wichita, October 21, 2009