Article,
On the cytoskeleton and soft glassy rheology
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS, 41 (7): 1467-1478 (2008)
DOI: {10.1016/j.jbiomech.2008.02.014}
Abstract
The cytoskeleton is a complex structure within the cellular corpus that
is responsible for the main structural properties and motilities of
cells. A wide range of models have been utilized to understand
cytoskeletal rheology and mechanics (see e.g. Mofrad, M., Kamm, R.,
2006. Cytoskeletal Mechanics: Models and Measurements. Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge). From this large collection of proposed
models, the soft glassy rheological model (originally developed for
inert soft glassy materials) has gained a certain traction in the
literature due to the close resemblance of its predictions to certain
mechanical data measured on cell cultures Fabry, B., Maksym, G.,
Butler, J., Glogauer, M., Navajas, D., Fredberg, J., 2001. Scaling the
microrheology of living cells. Physical Review Letters 87, 14102. We
first review classical linear rheological theory in a concise fashion
followed by an examination of the soft glassy rheological theory. With
this background we discuss the observed behavior of the cytoskeleton and
the inherent limitations of classical rheological models for the
cytoskeleton. This then leads into a discussion of the advantages and
disadvantages presented to us by the soft glassy rheological model. We
close with some comments of caution and recommendations on future
avenues of exploration. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
