Nonlinear elasticity of composite networks of stiff biopolymers with flexible linkers.
Motivated by recent experiments showing nonlinear elasticity of in vitro networks of the biopolymer actin cross-linked with filamin, we present an effective medium theory of flexibly cross-linked stiff polymer networks. We model such networks by randomly oriented elastic rods connected by flexible connectors to a surrounding elastic continuum, which self-consistently represents the behavior of the rest of the network. This model yields a crossover from a linear elastic regime to a highly nonlinear elastic regime that stiffens in a way quantitatively consistent with experiment.
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Broedersz
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Storm
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MacKintosh
D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry; D000465:Algorithms; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003285:Contractile Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D064448:Filamins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D033081:Shear Strength; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D000199:Actins; D001704:Biopolymers; D003285:Contractile Proteins; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D064448:Filamins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins