Abstract
Microtubules, which are flexible biopolymers, can be used for nanotechnology applications (e.g., nano-actuator) as they have a rigidity similar to that of plexyglass and other plastic materials. The flexural rigidity, or bending stiffness, of nucrotubules was measured using a laser trapping technique and dark-field microscopy. One end of a microtubule rod was chemically bound to a glass microsphere, while the other end was bound to a silica glass substrate. Then, the microsphere was lasertrapped and manipulated to exert three different deformation modes on the microtubule. The values of flexural rigidity for these deformations were between 10-25 and 10-23 Nm2 as measured for the 5-25 μm length microtubules. The origin of the length dependence of the flexural rigidity of microtubules is discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3015-3019 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Part 1: Regular Papers and Short Notes and Review Papers |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 5 A |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2002 May |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Flexural rigidity
- Laser manipulation
- Laser trapping
- Laser tweezers
- Microtubule-associated proteins
- Radiation force
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Engineering(all)
- Physics and Astronomy(all)