title: A nonlinear characteristic regime of biomembrane force probe.
abstract: A linear relation between stiffness and aspiration pressure is the basis for biomembrane force probe (BFP), a widely used technique to measure minuscule forces. Here we perform finite element simulations and semi-analytical modeling of the BFP operation to show that, at low aspiration pressures, there exists a characteristic regime in which the relation between stiffness and aspiration pressure is actually nonlinear. We find that this nonlinear characteristic regime arises from a transition in configuration of a partially aspirated biomembrane force probe under increasing aspiration pressure. We discuss both the conditions for the transition and the characteristics of the nonlinear characteristic regime, as well as its potential applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore 119260, Singapore.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Qian-Hua
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Huajian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yong-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology