title: Measuring the mass, volume, and density of microgram-sized objects in fluid.
abstract: Measurements of an object's fundamental physical properties like mass, volume, and density can offer valuable insights into the composition and state of the object. However, many important biological samples reside in a liquid environment where it is difficult to accurately measure their physical properties. We show that by using a simple piece of glass tubing and some inexpensive off-the-shelf electronics, we can create a sensor that can measure the mass, volume, and density of microgram-sized biological samples in their native liquid environment. As a proof-of-concept, we use this sensor to measure mass changes in zebrafish embryos reacting to toxicant exposure, density changes in seeds undergoing rehydration and germination, and degradation rates of biomaterials used in medical implants. Since all objects have these physical properties, this sensor has immediate applications in a wide variety of different fields including developmental biology, toxicology, materials science, plant science, and many others.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States of America, 92521.
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2258-8100
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mesbah Oskui
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States of America, 92521.
authors.forename: Heran C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Bhakta
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States of America, 92521.
authors.forename: Graciel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diamante
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States of America, 92521.
authors.forename: Huinan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States of America, 92521.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlenk
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States of America, 92521.
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Grover
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015509:Developmental Biology / Q000379:methods; D004777:Environment; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000502:physiology*