Major:
Physics
University:
University of California Merced
Mentor(s):
Remi Boros
Faculty Sponsor(s):
Zvonimir Dogic
Faculty Sponsor's Department(s):
Physics
Project Title:
Microrheology of Static Microtubule Hydrogels
Project Description:
We study the viscoelasticity of passive microtubule networks over varying microtubule concentrations. Our gels consist of a suspension of microtubules in MgCl2 and PIPES buffer and are doped with fluorescently labeled polystyrene beads. By extracting the mean squared displacement of these beads, we show that viscosity increases as a function of microtubule concentration up to a critical concentration of 0.8 mg/mL. Above this concentration, the gels behave elastically. These data are a control for future experiments that will probe viscoelasticity in microtubule-kinesin-based active gels.