• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Aspiration of Biological Viscoelastic Drops

Karine Guevorkian, Marie-Josée Colbert, Mélanie Durth, Sylvie Dufour, and Françoise Brochard-Wyart
Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 218101 – Published 24 May 2010
Physics logo See Viewpoint: Cellular aggregates under pressure

Abstract

Spherical cellular aggregates are in vitro systems to study the physical and biophysical properties of tissues. We present a novel approach to characterize the mechanical properties of cellular aggregates using a micropipette aspiration technique. We observe an aspiration in two distinct regimes: a fast elastic deformation followed by a viscous flow. We develop a model based on this viscoelastic behavior to deduce the surface tension, viscosity, and elastic modulus. A major result is the increase of the surface tension with the applied force, interpreted as an effect of cellular mechanosensing.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 24 November 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.218101

©2010 American Physical Society

Viewpoint

Key Image

Cellular aggregates under pressure

Published 24 May 2010

Researchers develop a new approach to measuring the viscoelastic properties of multicellular aggregates by using a micropipette aspiration technique.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Karine Guevorkian1, Marie-Josée Colbert2, Mélanie Durth3,5, Sylvie Dufour4, and Françoise Brochard-Wyart1,*

  • 1UMR 168, Institut Curie/CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75248 Paris, France
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M1 Canada
  • 3Ladhyx, UMR 7646 CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, France
  • 4UMR 144, Institut Curie/CNRS, 75248 Paris, France
  • 5Departamento de Ingenería Aeroespacial y Mecánica de Fluidos, Universidad de Sevilla, 41092, Sevilla, Spain

  • *brochard@curie.fr

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 104, Iss. 21 — 28 May 2010

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×