Optical tweezer microrheology: HCIC User Meeting presentation
I recently presented an update at the HCIC User meeting on 11/10/23 detailing our efforts in exploring the use of optical tweezers to perform microrheology in type I/type III collagen hydrogels. These hydrogels are of interest for in vitro models such as the hToC and we would like to explore the viscoelastic changes caused by using different collagen materials.
My presentation from that meeting is shared in this post. The slides begin with a brief description of why we are investigating type III collagen in the context of tendon injury and wound repair, followed by a description of viscoelasticity, and an introduction to the Active-Passive Microrheology method we are trying to use. Finally I share some preliminary data and compare it to some bulk rheology measurements in our collagen hydrogels.
The Active-Passive Microrheology method is described in: Mario Fischer and Kirstine Berg-Sørensen 2007 J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 9 S239