Momentum - The Magazine for Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering Vol. 3 No. 3 Fall 2018 | Page 25

have taken the first few steps, and now the next steps are to work with cli-
nicians, dermatologists, and biologists who study why some cells can induce
gap closure while others cannot. We’re beginning to work with those folks
now to develop a strategy,” Nain said.
Nain’s goal is to create a custom suture made of a scaffolding that can be
implanted to induce closure.
“If we can interface a fiber in a certain way, we can make cells stream out
in a way that can potentially close gaps. It can help people,” Nain said.
Currently, fibers can be made out of biodegradable and biocompatible
materials, but Nain says he’s not at the finish line yet.
“One part of this is fundamental science and the other is translational
ability,” Nain said. “If you have sound science, it will lead to a translational
strategy. We want to understand what it is that is so special about certain
cells and their environments, and how we can tune the environment to
force cells to behave in a certain way.” The fundamental research and
testing in a lab setting is key to success of implantable sutures in humans.
“Mechanical engineering is poised to make significant contributions in
translational medicine and it is important that we embrace mechanobiolo-
gy, biophysics and bioengineering in our curriculum at undergraduate and
graduate levels,” Nain said
https://youtu.be/X7qpRUPQ2jc
MOMENTUM
FALL 2018
PAGE 25