1. Linear and nonlinear microrheology of lysozyme layers forming at the air-water interface.
- Author
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Allan DB, Firester DM, Allard VP, Reich DH, Stebe KJ, and Leheny RL
- Subjects
- Air, Animals, Chickens, Elasticity, Gels, Glass, Linear Models, Magnetics, Nanowires, Shear Strength, Surface Properties, Viscosity, Colloids chemistry, Muramidase chemistry, Rheology methods, Water chemistry
- Abstract
We report experiments studying the mechanical evolution of layers of the protein lysozyme adsorbing at the air-water interface using passive and active microrheology techniques to investigate the linear and nonlinear rheological response, respectively. Following formation of a new interface, the linear shear rheology, which we interrogate through the Brownian motion of spherical colloids at the interface, becomes viscoelastic with a complex modulus that has approximately power-law frequency dependence. The power-law exponent characterizing this frequency dependence decreases steadily with increasing layer age. Meanwhile, the nonlinear microrheology, probed via the rotational motion of magnetic nanowires at the interface, reveals a layer response characteristic of a shear-thinning power-law fluid with a flow index that decreases with age. We discuss two possible frameworks for understanding this mechanical evolution: gelation and the formation of a soft glass phase.
- Published
- 2014
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