Viscoelastic properties of cells in health and disease

Microrheology - characterization of mechanical properties of single cells or subcellular properties (e.g. cell or nuclear deformability)

Using a bead strongly attached to the cell surface, it is possible to quantify several viscoelastic properties of cells, such as compliance and fluidity.

 
 J0= Cell Compliance (inverse of stiffness)β = Fluidity (dimensionless quantity)

 

J0= Cell Compliance (inverse of stiffness)

β = Fluidity (dimensionless quantity)