An investigation of the influence of droplet size conditions and monomer choice on electrospun carbon nanofiber properties is presented. Monomer choices included poly (epsilon-caprolactone) and poly (methyl methacrylate) with and without the addition of single walled carbon nanotubes. A key property under investigation is the effect of electrospinning conditions on the resulting carbon nanofiber elasticity. Carbon nanofiber elasticity investigations are performed using atomic force microscopy with force volume imaging and the Force Integration to Equal Limits mapping method. A monomer choice of poly (F.-caprolactone) with a syringe bore radius of 406.4 microns is shown to produce electrospun carbon nanofibers with acceptable morphologies for tissue scaffold applications. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.