Authors:

Madeline Jane Stevenson

Date Created:

Not specified

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About Paper:

Microrheology has emerged in the past few decades as an effective technique for understanding the mechanical properties of various materials and systems. Numerous studies have documented that diseased cells exhibit lower elasticity and higher viscosity compared to healthy cells. The cytoplasm, a complex heterogeneous solution, results in differences in subcellular measurements compared to overall tissue viscoelasticity. Accurate comparisons between individual cells require nanoscale precision. This project seeks to develop a form of active microrheology that utilizes a magnetic field to induce the motion of target particles. An arrangement of eight permeant magnets generates the magnetic field, monitored via a Hall sensor. Injected superparamagnetic fluorescent beads elongate cells in the direction of the magnetic field without disrupting living tissue. An adapted LabVIEW program detects magnetic particles and measures the viscoelasticity of the cells over time. The platform mounts onto a confocal microscope with a linear actuator to alter the magnetic field. Materials of known mechanical properties will be used as benchmarks to assess the device's accuracy, with initial performance tested through water trials. Challenges include minimizing the weight-bearing load and generating a sufficient magnetic field to manipulate the sample. A successfully designed active microrheology system would be powerful in characterizing the viscoelastic properties of biological matter and cells. Keywords: Active Microrheology; Viscoelasticity; Magnetic Beads; Particle Tracking; Permanent Magnets

Source:

Purdue University / 2024

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Madeline Jane Stevenson