Probing active nematics with in situ microfabricated elastic inclusions.

ABSTRACT: In this work, we report a direct measurement of the forces exerted by a tubulin/kinesin active nematic gel as well as its complete rheological characterization, including the quantification of its shear viscosity, η, and its activity parameter, α. For this, we develop a method that allows us to rapidly photo-polymerize compliant elastic inclusions in the continuously remodeling active system. Moreover, we quantitatively settle long-standing theoretical predictions, such as a postulated relationship encoding the intrinsic time scale of the active nematic in terms of η and α. In parallel, we infer a value for the nematic elasticity constant, K, by combining our measurements with the theorized scaling of the active length scale. On top of the microrheology c

SUBMITTER: Velez-Ceron I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10945829 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature