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  • Title: Optical measurement of cell membrane tension.
    Author: Popescu G, Ikeda T, Goda K, Best-Popescu CA, Laposata M, Manley S, Dasari RR, Badizadegan K, Feld MS.
    Journal: Phys Rev Lett; 2006 Nov 24; 97(21):218101. PubMed ID: 17155774.
    Abstract:
    Using a novel noncontact technique based on optical interferometry, we quantify the nanoscale thermal fluctuations of red blood cells (RBCs) and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). The measurements reveal a nonvanishing tension coefficient for RBCs, which increases as cells transition from a discocytic shape to a spherical shape. The tension coefficient measured for GUVs is, however, a factor of 4-24 smaller. By contrast, the bending moduli for cells and vesicles have similar values. This is consistent with the cytoskeleton confinement model, in which the cytoskeleton inhibits membrane fluctuations [Gov et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 228101, (2003).
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