Abstract
The axial deformation of apipette-pressurized fluid membrane bag produces minuscule yet well-defined, reproducible forces. The stiffness of this ultrasensitive force transducer is tunable and largely independent of the constitutive membrane behavior. Based on a rigorous variational treatment, we present both numerical as well as approximate analytical solutions for the force-deflection relation of this unique biophysical force probe. Our numerical results predict a measurably nonlinear force-deflection behavior at moderate-to-large deformations, which we confirm experimentally using red blood cells. Furthermore, considering nearly spherical membrane shapes and enforcing proper boundary conditions, we derive an analytical solution valid at small deformations. In this linear regime the pressurized membrane bag behaves like a Hookean spring, with a spring constant that is significantly larger than previously published for the biomembrane force probe.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 363-372 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Biophysical Journal |
| Volume | 93 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 2007 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
Cite this
Force versus axial deflection of pipette-aspirated closed membranes. / Heinrich, Volkmar; Ounkomol, Chawin.
In: Biophysical Journal, Vol. 93, No. 2, 07.2007, p. 363-372.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Force versus axial deflection of pipette-aspirated closed membranes
AU - Heinrich, Volkmar
AU - Ounkomol, Chawin
PY - 2007/7
Y1 - 2007/7
N2 - The axial deformation of apipette-pressurized fluid membrane bag produces minuscule yet well-defined, reproducible forces. The stiffness of this ultrasensitive force transducer is tunable and largely independent of the constitutive membrane behavior. Based on a rigorous variational treatment, we present both numerical as well as approximate analytical solutions for the force-deflection relation of this unique biophysical force probe. Our numerical results predict a measurably nonlinear force-deflection behavior at moderate-to-large deformations, which we confirm experimentally using red blood cells. Furthermore, considering nearly spherical membrane shapes and enforcing proper boundary conditions, we derive an analytical solution valid at small deformations. In this linear regime the pressurized membrane bag behaves like a Hookean spring, with a spring constant that is significantly larger than previously published for the biomembrane force probe.
AB - The axial deformation of apipette-pressurized fluid membrane bag produces minuscule yet well-defined, reproducible forces. The stiffness of this ultrasensitive force transducer is tunable and largely independent of the constitutive membrane behavior. Based on a rigorous variational treatment, we present both numerical as well as approximate analytical solutions for the force-deflection relation of this unique biophysical force probe. Our numerical results predict a measurably nonlinear force-deflection behavior at moderate-to-large deformations, which we confirm experimentally using red blood cells. Furthermore, considering nearly spherical membrane shapes and enforcing proper boundary conditions, we derive an analytical solution valid at small deformations. In this linear regime the pressurized membrane bag behaves like a Hookean spring, with a spring constant that is significantly larger than previously published for the biomembrane force probe.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34447315557&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34447315557&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1529/biophysj.107.104091
DO - 10.1529/biophysj.107.104091
M3 - Article
C2 - 17468170
AN - SCOPUS:34447315557
VL - 93
SP - 363
EP - 372
JO - Biophysical Journal
JF - Biophysical Journal
SN - 0006-3495
IS - 2
ER -