Stochastic optical active rheology

Appl Phys Lett. 2012 Jul 16;101(3):31902. doi: 10.1063/1.4737159. Epub 2012 Jul 17.

Abstract

We demonstrate a stochastic based method for performing active rheology using optical tweezers. By monitoring the displacement of an embedded particle in response to stochastic optical forces, a rapid estimate of the frequency dependent shear moduli of a sample is achieved in the range of 10(-1)-10(3) Hz. We utilize the method to probe linear viscoelastic properties of hydrogels at varied cross-linker concentrations. Combined with fluorescence imaging, our method demonstrates non-linear changes of bond strength between T cell receptors and an antigenic peptide due to force-induced cell activation.