High-throughput quantitative measurement of bulk mechanical properties of soft materials
Inventors
Wang, Muzhou • Griffith, Justin E. • Chen, Yusu • Shull, Kenneth R. • Tullman-Ercek, Danielle
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12618761-B2
Publication Date
2026-05-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
Provided herein are systems and methods for carrying out high-throughput quantitative measurements of bulk mechanical properties of soft materials. The systems include a centrifuge, solid particles, and sample wells. In the systems and methods, samples comprising solid particles embedded in soft materials contained within sample wells are centrifuged in a series of increasing centrifugal speed increments, and a bulk mechanical property, such as fracture stress or elastic modulus, of each soft material is determined by monitoring the centrifugal force needed for the solid particles to fracture the soft material in each of the samples.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a method for measuring a bulk mechanical property of one or more soft materials by embedding one or more solid particles in the soft material and preparing the resulting soft material samples in one or more sample wells. The method mounts the sample wells in a centrifuge in an inverted configuration and spins the sample wells in a series of increasing centrifugal velocity increments.
The method determines whether the solid particles have broken through the soft material by monitoring the soft material samples after each centrifugal velocity increment. In this way, the centrifugal-loading progression is tied to a particle breakthrough or fracture event that is used to evaluate the bulk mechanical property of the soft material.
In dependent forms, the measured bulk mechanical property is fracture stress, optionally correlated with elastic modulus or shear modulus. The approach is implemented in high-throughput sample formats using multiwell plates and monitoring that can include photographing after each centrifugal velocity increment.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim provides a general method with three inventive features: preparing particle-embedded soft material samples in sample wells, spinning the wells in an inverted centrifuge through increasing centrifugal velocity increments, and monitoring after each increment to determine particle breakthrough. Dependent claims refine the measured bulk mechanical property, add preparation and monitoring details, and specify scaling and material-type boundaries.
Inverted centrifuge of particle-embedded soft material wells through increasing velocity increments
A method comprising mounting one or more sample wells in a centrifuge in an inverted configuration and spinning the sample wells in a series of increasing centrifugal velocity increments.
Monitoring after each centrifugal increment to detect particle breakthrough
A method comprising monitoring the one or more soft material samples after each centrifugal velocity increment to determine whether the one or more solid particles have broken through the soft material in the one or more soft material samples.
Soft material samples comprising solid particles embedded in the soft material in sample wells
A method comprising preparing one or more soft material samples in one or more sample wells, the one or more soft material samples comprising one or more solid particles embedded in a soft material.
Measuring fracture stress as the bulk mechanical property
The method further characterized in that the bulk mechanical property is fracture stress.
Preparing soft material samples by particle placement, liquid or precursor addition, and solidifying
The method further characterized by preparing the soft material samples by placing solid particles into the sample wells, adding a liquid comprising the soft material or a precursor of the soft material, and solidifying the soft materials in the wells.
Photographing after each centrifugal velocity increment
The method further characterized in that after each centrifugal velocity increment, the soft material samples are photographed as part of the monitoring step.
High-throughput scale of at least 100 soft material samples
The method further characterized in that at least 100 soft material samples are prepared and monitored.
Hydrogel as the soft material
The method further characterized in that the one or more soft material samples include a hydrogel.
Overall claim coverage centers on an inverted centrifuge workflow for particle-embedded soft-material samples with stepwise increasing centrifugal velocity increments and after-increment monitoring to detect particle breakthrough, with dependent claims specifying fracture stress, sample preparation details, photographing, at least 100 samples, and a hydrogel embodiment.
Stated Advantages
High-throughput measurement using multiwell sample formats.
Quantitative determination of fracture or breakthrough-related bulk mechanical properties from particle breakthrough during centrifugation.
Optionally enables correlation of fracture stress with elastic modulus or shear modulus.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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