Investigation of Soft and Living Matter using a Micro-Extensional Rheometer

TL;DR

This paper introduces a versatile microscopic device for conducting extensional rheology studies on soft and living materials, enabling simultaneous imaging and deformation analysis, which advances the experimental capabilities in this field.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel, adaptable micro-extensional rheometer that allows for detailed study of extensional properties of soft and living matter with integrated imaging.

Findings

Device enables microscopic extensional rheology with imaging

Applicable to fibrous, polymer, and cellular materials

Enhances understanding of molecular anisotropies in soft matter

Abstract

Rheological properties of a material often require to be probed under extensional deformation. Examples include fibrous materials such as spider-silk, high-molecular weight polymer melts, and the contractile response of living cells. Such materials have strong molecular-level anisotropies which are either inherent or are induced by an imposed extension. However, unlike shear rheology, which is well-established, techniques to perform extensional rheology are currently under development and setups are often custom-designed for the problem under study. In this article, we present a versatile device that can be used to conduct extensional deformation studies of samples at microscopic scales with simultaneous imaging. We discuss the operational features of this device and present a number of applications.