title: Scanning probe-based frequency-dependent microrheology of polymer gels and biological cells.
abstract: A new scanning probe-based microrheology approach is used to quantify the frequency-dependent viscoelastic behavior of both fibroblast cells and polymer gels. The scanning probe shape was modified using polystyrene beads for a defined surface area nondestructively deforming the sample. An extended Hertz model is introduced to measure the frequency-dependent storage and loss moduli even for thin cell samples. Control measurements of the polyacrylamide gels compare well with conventional rheological data. The cells show a viscoelastic signature similar to in vitro actin gels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mahaffy
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: MacKintosh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Käs
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry; D002477:Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008863:Microspheres; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000199:Actins; D001704:Biopolymers; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; C016680:polyacrylamide gels