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Updated: Jan 11, 2026

In Situ Mapping of the Mechanical Properties of Biofilms by Particle-tracking Microrheology
Published on: December 4, 2015
Rheologically Tuned Modes of Collective Transport in Active Viscoelastic Films
Henning Reinken1, Andreas M Menzel1
1Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Institut für Physik, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany.
Abstract:
While many living biological media combine both viscous and elastic properties, most theoretical studies employ either purely fluid or solidlike descriptions. We here use a unified framework for active films on substrates capable of describing a range of viscoelastic behavior to explore the interplay between activity and rheology. The core of the study is a comprehensive state diagram showing a rich world of spatiotemporal dynamic states. Our results demonstrate the potential of tunable rheology to realize modes of controlled active transport on the microscale.
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