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Nonlinear Rheology in a Model Biological Tissue
D A Matoz-Fernandez1, Elisabeth Agoritsas1,2, Jean-Louis Barrat1
1Université Grenoble Alpes & CNRS, LIPHY, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
Physical Review Letters
|April 29, 2017
Summary
This study reveals how dense active matter, like biological tissues, exhibits shear-thinning behavior under increasing stress. A new model explains this nonlinear flow through mechanical and active noise interactions.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Dense active matter is crucial for understanding biological tissue mechanics.
- Probing tissue mechanical properties involves studying responses to external forces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rheological response of dense active matter.
- To understand the transition from linear flow to shear-thinning behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a particle-based model with random apoptosis and environment-dependent division rates.
- Derived a theoretical mean-field scenario to explain observed rheological phenomena.
Main Results:
- Observed a crossover from linear flow to shear-thinning with increasing shear rate.
- Identified the interplay of mechanical and active noise in local stresses as a key factor.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a theoretical framework for nonlinear flow in dense active matter.
- Mechanical and active noise are critical in determining the rheological properties of biological tissues.
