Microrheology with optical tweezers: measuring the relative viscosity of solutions 'at a glance'.
We present a straightforward method for measuring the relative viscosity of fluids via a simple graphical analysis of the normalised position autocorrelation function of an optically trapped bead, without the need of embarking on laborious calculations. The advantages of the proposed microrheology method are evident when it is adopted for measurements of materials whose availability is limited, such as those involved in biological studies. The method has been validated by direct comparison with conventional bulk rheology methods, and has been applied both to characterise synthetic linear polyelectrolytes solutions and to study biomedical samples.
Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, UK.
Manlio
M
Tassieri
Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care @CRIB, IIT, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
Francesco
F
Del Giudice
Department of Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London SW17 0RS, UK.
Emma J
EJ
Robertson
Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx NY, USA.
Neena
N
Jain
Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx NY, USA.
Bettina
B
Fries
Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, UK.
Rab
R
Wilson
Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, UK.
Andrew
A
Glidle
Istituto di Ricerche sulla Combustione, IRC-CNR, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
Francesco
F
Greco
Center for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care @CRIB, IIT, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
Paolo Antonio
PA
Netti
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, , Universitá di Napoli Federico II, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy.
Pier Luca
PL
Maffettone
Department of Infection and Immunity, St George's University of London, London SW17 0RS, UK.
Tihana
T
Bicanic
Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, UK.
Jonathan M
JM
Cooper
D052898:Optical Tweezers; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*; D012996:Solutions; D014783:Viscosity
D012996:Solutions