Rheology in the Biological Sciences

Rheology is the science of how materials deform and flow and is a critical aspect of understanding the biomechanical functions of cell and tissue. Historically, scientists have designed simple and cost-effective instruments for assessing the mechanical properties of biological materials to inform their functionality. Cells and tissue are heterogeneous and possess complex mechanical properties. Yet, simple instruments such as falling ball viscometers and torsion pendulums, can often accurately capture and measure different aspects of how biological materials deform that are relevant to physiological conditions. Here we review the application of simple, home-built instruments suitable for probing the viscoelastic properties of biological materials, underscoring the importance of creativity and innovation of experimental tool design in the field of biomechanics.