Local dynamic mechanical analysis for heterogeneous soft matter using ferrule-top indentation.

ABSTRACT: There is a strong demand for nanoindentation methods to probe the heterogeneous viscoelastic properties of soft tissues. Important applications include diagnosis of early onset diseases such as arthritis and investigations into cellular mechanoresponse in tissue. Quantification of tissue mechanics at length and time scales relevant to biological processes, however, remains a technical challenge. Here, we present a new nanoindentation approach that is ideally suited to probe the viscoelastic properties of soft, hydrated tissues. We built a ferrule-top probe that uses wavelength modulation in a Fabry-Pérot cavity configuration to detect cantilever deflection and to drive a feedback-controlled piezoelectric actuator. This technique allows us to control the static load applied onto the sample

SUBMITTER: van Hoorn H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4819682 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature