The mechanical behavior of soft materials can be very challenging to measure accurately when using conventional measurements. NU-MRSEC researchers recently discovered a new hierarchically ordered system that is based on the co-assembly of high molecular weight polyanions and peptide amphiphiles at the interface of two aqueous solutions. These closed membranes (sacs) have a complex hierarchical structure, which presents a unique challenge in quantifying its mechanical properties. Membrane inflation and drop shape analysis techniques have been used to quantitatively characterize the membrane properties. These findings will be essential for tailoring the membrane characteristics for specific future applications.
|
