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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 9: Poster Session Ib

BP 9.6: Poster

Monday, March 18, 2024, 18:00–20:30, Poster D

Measuring Mean Back Relaxation with Dark-field Microscopy — •Julian Schulz — Georg August Universität, Göttingen, Germany

The measurement of mechanical properties in living cells presents significant challenges due to their non-equilibrium nature. Traditional methods, such as active rheology, assess the complex shear modulus and energy dissipation but require challengingly complex invasive experiments. In contrast, the "mean back relaxation" (MBR), a novel statistical measure introduced by Muenker, Knotz, Krüger & Betz in 2022, offers insights into the energy dissipation of a cell through purely passive observations. So far, MBR measurements have relied on optical tweezers-based particle tracking, a technique not readily accessible in many laboratories. In this work, we utilize broadly available dark-field microscopy to monitor the position of a tracer particle inside hydrogels or cells with high spatial and temporal resolution. By comparing the results from this method with simulations, we can align them with various viscoelastic models, thereby enabling the determination of biomechanical properties of cells. Our approach significantly enhances the accessibility of MBR measurement, providing a high-throughput method suitable for a broader range of laboratories. Furthermore, we offer software tools for efficient data analysis, expanding the potential for MBR measurements in diverse research settings. This advancement allows more scientists to explore cellular mechanics with less specialized equipment and reduced overhead.