Spherical cell approach for the effective viscosity of suspensions

In the present paper, the spherical cell approach is employed for addressing the effective viscosity of suspensions of spherical particles. The proposed derivation is based on the only assumption which constitutes the essence of the spherical cell approach: a representative part of the suspension is a spherical cell which contains a particle surrounded by the continuous phase. In contrast with the previous studies on this topic, no additional assumptions are used in the present analysis. The general method of derivation and the final result, which represents the effective viscosity as a function of the solid-phase volume fraction, are compared with earlier studies where the spherical cell approach was applied for describing the effective viscosity.     

19F NMR Spectroscopy as a Probe of Cytoplasmic Viscosity and Weak Protein Interactions in Living Cells

Protein mobility in living cells is vital for cell function. Both cytosolic viscosity and weak protein–protein interactions affect mobility, but examining viscosity and weak interaction effects is challenging. Herein, we demonstrate the use of ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy to measure cytoplasmic viscosity and to characterize nonspecific protein–protein interactions in living Escherichia coli cells. The origins of resonance broadening in Escherichia coli cells were also investigated. We found that sample inhomogeneity has a negligible effect on resonance broadening, the cytoplasmic viscosity is only about 2–3 times that of water, and ubiquitous transient weak protein–protein interactions in the cytosol play a significant role in governing the detection of proteins by using in‐cell NMR spectroscopy.     

New fluorescent probes for the measurement of cell membrane viscosity

BACKGROUND: Molecular rotors are fluorescent molecules that exhibit viscosity-dependent fluorescence quantum yield, potentially allowing direct measurements of cell membrane viscosity in cultured cells. Commercially available rotors, however, stain not only the cell membrane, but also bind to tubulin and migrate into the cytoplasm. We synthesized molecules related to 9-(dicyanovinyl)-julolidine (DCVJ), which featured hydrocarbon chains of different length to increase membrane compatibility.RESULTS: Longer hydrocarbon chains attached to the fluorescent rotor reduce the migration of the dye into the cytoplasm and internal compartments of the cell. The amplitude of the fluorescence response to fluid shear stress, known to decrease membrane viscosity, is significantly higher than the response obtained from DCVJ. Notably a farnesyl chain showed a more than 20-fold amplitude over DCVJ and allowed detection of membrane viscosity changes at markedly lower shear stresses.CONCLUSIONS: The modification of molecular rotors towards increased cell membrane association provides a new research tool for membrane viscosity measurements. The use of these rotors complements established methods such as fluorescence recovery after photobleaching with its limited spatial and temporal resolution and fluorescence anisotropy, which has low sensitivity and may be subject to other effects such as deformation.     

Mapping Live Cell Viscosity with an Aggregation‐Induced Emission Fluorogen by Means of Two‐Photon Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging

Intracellular viscosity is a crucial parameter that indicates the functioning of cells. In this work, we demonstrate the utility of TPE‐Cy, a cell‐permeable dye with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) property, in mapping the viscosity inside live cells. Owing to the AIE characteristics, both the fluorescence intensity and lifetime of this dye are increased along with an increase in viscosity. Fluorescence lifetime imaging of live cells stained with TPE‐Cy reveals that the lifetime in lipid droplets is much shorter than that from the general cytoplasmic region. The loose packing of the lipids in a lipid droplet results in low viscosity and thus shorter lifetime of TPE‐Cy in this region. It demonstrates that the AIE dye could provide good resolution in intracellular viscosity sensing. This is also the first work in which AIE molecules are applied in fluorescence lifetime imaging and intracellular viscosity sensing.     

一种新型咔唑类菁染料黏度荧光探针

合成了一种带有醛基的咔唑类菁染料KQ, 其自身的荧光量子产率较低, 对极性的敏感性小, 且荧光信号不受核酸等生物分子的干扰. KQ对环境黏度有很好的荧光响应, 相对荧光强度随着环境黏度的增大而增强, 并且在1×10^-3~1.3216 Pa·s黏度范围内, 染料的荧光强度与溶液的黏度呈良好的线性关系. 活细胞荧光成像实验结果表明, 染料KQ具有良好的细胞膜通透性, 并可对细胞内不同位置的黏度检测成像.     

Measurement of the rotational viscosity of ferroelectric liquid crystals based on a simple dynamical model

Rotational viscosity and spontaneous polarization are the most important properties of a ferroelectric liquid crystal with regard to its switching time in surface stabilized or a.c. field stabilized displays. Whereas there is an abundant literature about spontaneous polarization, only a few attempts have been made to determine the rotational viscosity. We set up a model for the electric response of a ferroelectric liquid crystal cell on application of an electric field. For the application of a triangular wave voltage we derive a relation between the rotational viscosity, the spontaneous polarization, the tilt angle, the maximum induced polarization current and the electric field strength. Experiments are carried out on several ferroelectric liquid crystals and the derived relation was used to determine the rotational viscosity. The relation between the rotational viscosity and the polarization on the one hand and the optical switching time on the other hand is discussed in some detail.     

Electroosmosis through a Cation-Exchange Membrane: Effect of an ac Perturbation on the Electroosmotic Flow

The viscous behavior of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions is studied over a broad range of dispersed-phase concentrations (φ) using a controlled-stress rheometer. At low-to-moderate values of φ (φ<0.60), emulsions exhibit Newtonian behavior. The droplet size does not exert any influence on the viscosity of Newtonian emulsions. However, at higher values of φ, emulsions exhibit shear-thinning behavior. The viscosity of shear-thinning emulsions is strongly influenced by the droplet size; a significant increase in the viscosity occurs when the droplet size is reduced. With the decrease in droplet size, the degree of shear thinning in concentrated emulsions is also enhanced. The viscosity data of Newtonian emulsions are described reasonably well by the cell model of Yaron and Gal-Or (Rheol. Acta 11, 241 (1972)), which takes into account the effects of the dispersed-phase concentration as well as the viscosity ratio of the dispersed phase to continuous phase. The relative viscosities of non-Newtonian emulsions having different droplet sizes but the same dispersed-phase concentration are scaled with the particle Reynolds number. The high shear viscosities of non-Newtonian emulsions can be predicted fairly well by the cell model of Yaron and Gal-Or (Rheol. Acta 11, 241 (1972)). Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

溶胶-凝胶流动相异型直接甲醇燃料电池性能研究

以掺杂石墨粉的中间相碳微球(MCMB/G)烧结管为阴极支撑体,采用浸涂工艺分别制备了扩散层和催化层并在其外表面包裹Nafion膜,制得管状异型阴极并组装成异型直接甲醇燃料电池;采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了适用于直接甲醇燃料电池的溶胶-凝胶流动相。研究了溶胶-凝胶流动相异型直接甲醇燃料电池的阻抗,考察了阴极支撑体壁厚、阴极扩散层载量、实验温度和溶胶黏度等对电池极化性能的影响。结果表明,异型电池阻抗比传统平板电池大,但活化后电池阻抗明显下降;较低的溶胶黏度和较高的工作温度有利于提高电池性能;支撑体壁厚为1.3 mm、扩散层载量为3.5 mg/cm2时的电极性能最优。     

Multi-organelle-targeting pH-dependent NIR fluorescent probe for lysosomal viscosity

The normal operation of lysosome, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum plays a significant role in maintaining cell homeostasis. Reflecting the state and function of lysosomes, viscosity is a pivotal parameter to assess the stability of microenvironment. Herein, based on TICT mechanism, a new NIR pH-dependent fluorescent probe DCIC with push-pull electronic moiety was synthesized to identify the lysosomes viscosity. In viscous media, DCIC was highly sensitive to viscosity, fluorescence intensity increased by 180 times as viscosity increased from 1.0 cp to 438.4 cp. In addition, DCIC have high localization ability for lysosome, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and endoplasmic reticulum and can monitor lysosomal viscosity fluctuations with laser confocal microscopy.     

A Cell Model of a Membrane with Allowance for Variable Viscosity of Liquid in Porous Shells of Spherical Grains

The Happel–Brenner cell method has been employed to calculate the hydrodynamic permeability of a porous medium (membrane) composed of a set of partially porous spherical particles with solid impermeable cores. This representation is used to describe the globular structure of membranes containing soluble grains. The apparent viscosity of a liquid is suggested to increase as a power function of the depth of the porous shell from the viscosity of the pure liquid at the porous medium–liquid shell interface to some larger value at the boundary with the impermeable core. All known boundary conditions used for the cell surface, i.e., those proposed by Happel, Kuwabara, Kvashnin, and Cunningham, have been considered. Important limiting cases have been analyzed.     

Influence of parenteral fat emulsion Intralipos and citric acid on blood viscosity and erythrocyte morphology in vitro

In most studies fat emulsion had been administered by enteral route. Recently a parenteral soybean-oil emulsion has been developed. In this study we assessed the effects of a parenteral soybean-oil emulsion (Intralipos((R))) and citric acid on blood rheology and erythrocyte morphology in vitro. Porcine blood was incubated in vitro with increasing concentrations of fat emulsion Intralipos((R)) and citric acid at 37 degrees C for 1h. Viscosity of plasma and whole blood was measured using a FASCO-2050 digital viscometer. Red blood cell morphology was examined by light microscopy. The viscosity of whole blood represented an ascending dose-dependence for different Intralipos((R)) concentrations at high shear rate of 90 and 225s(-1), however, it decreased with citric acid concentrations. On the other hand, the whole blood viscosity also declined with citric acid concentrations in presence of 30% Intralipos((R)) (v/v), and there is a minimal viscosity at 0.67% citric acid (v/v). There are some thorns on the blood membrane at 40% Intralipos((R)) as compared with control (no Intralipos((R)) addition), which indicates the Intralipos((R)) compound may affect blood cell membranes, and resulted in whole blood viscosity increase. We concluded that the intravenous soybean-oil preparation Intralipos((R)) interacts with the erythrocyte membrane, and citric acid could alleviate the whole blood viscosity.     

Method for viscosity measurements at high pressure

The technique of quasielastic light scattering is utilized to determine the viscosity of fluids subjected to large hydrostatic pressures. In this method, a small concentration of insoluble polystyrene spheres of known diameter, 0.109 μm, is added to the fluid. The high-pressure cell in which the fluid is contained has three optical windows. The laser light scattered from the suspended spheres is analyzed to determine the diffusion coefficient of the spheres. Since, by the Stokes law, the viscosity of the fluid is determined from the measured diffusion coefficient and known particle radius r. A small correction is required for the contraction of the spheres and for refractive-index change of the water under pressure. Results on the viscosity of water at 25°C up to pressures of 2.5 kbar are reported and compared with published results. This method is applicable to lubricants and polymer solutions where the viscosity is many orders of magnitude greater than that of water.     

Molecular rotor measures viscosity of live cells via fluorescence lifetime imaging

The fluorescence intensity and lifetime of the 4,4'-difluoro-4-bora-5-(p-oxoalkyl)phenyl-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (1) show a strong correlation with the viscosity of the medium due to the viscosity-dependent twisting of the 5-phenyl group, which gives access to the dark nonemissive excited state. We propose a sensitive and versatile method for measuring the local microviscosity in biological systems, based on the determination of the fluorescence lifetime of 1. Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) performed on live cells incubated with 1 demonstrates the distinct intracellular lifetime of the molecular rotor of 1.6 +/- 0.2 ns corresponding to the intracellular viscosity of ca. 140 cP. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy of 1 in cells confirms insignificant binding of the fluorophore. The viscosity value obtained in the present study is considerably higher than that of water and of cellular cytoplasm. The high viscosity of intracellular compartments is likely to play an important role in vital intracellular processes, including the rate of diffusion of reactive oxygen species, causing programmed cell destruction.     

A highly selective fluorescent probe for visualizing dry eye disease-associated viscosity variations

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease of the ocular surface with complex and unclear etiology. The development of reliable detection tools for the pathology of DED will benefit its treatment, but it is still lacking. In parallel, it has been discovered recently that viscosity changes are involved in inflammation processes. In this regard, we constructed a fluorescent probe V5 with an asymmetric donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) feature after rational structural modulation for viscosity detection during DED progression. The probe manifested a remarkable fluorescence enhancement (110 folds) in highly viscous conditions without interferences from polarity and reactive species. Specifically, no aggregation effect of the probe was found in glycerol. Moreover, viscosity increment in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) induced by hyperosmosis and inflammation was monitored, and ferroptosis in HCECs also led to the viscosity elevation. A reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent viscosity changes during DED progression is demonstrated. Finally, viscosity change in corneal epithelial cell layer from mice treated by scopolamine was also visualized for the first time. We anticipate this work can provide a new lens to the pathogenesis study and diagnosis of DED and other ophthalmic diseases using fluorescence methods.     

Anisotropic shear viscosity in nematic liquid crystals: new optical measurement method

We propose a new optical method and the experimental set-up for measuring the anisotropic shear viscosities of nematic liquid crystals (LCs). LC shear viscosities can be optimized to improve liquid crystal display (LCD) response times, e.g. in vertical aligned nematic (VAN) or bistable nematic displays (BND). In this case a strong back-flow effect essentially determines the LCD dynamic characteristics. A number of shear viscosity coefficients defines the LCD response time. The proposed method is based on the special type of a shear flow, namely, the decay flow, in the LC cell with suitably treated substrates instead of magnetic or electric field application. A linear regime of a quasi-stationary director motion induced by a pressure difference and a proper configuration of a LC cell produces decay flow conditions in the LC cell. We determine three principal shear viscosity coefficients by measuring relative time variations of the intensity of the light passed through LC cells. The shear viscosity coefficient measurements provide a new opportunity for the development of new LC mixtures with fast response times in VAN, BND and other important LCD types.     

Anisotropic shear viscosity in nematic liquid crystals: new optical measurement method

We propose a new optical method and the experimental set-up for measuring the anisotropic shear viscosities of nematic liquid crystals (LCs). LC shear viscosities can be optimized to improve liquid crystal display (LCD) response times, e.g. in vertical aligned nematic (VAN) or bistable nematic displays (BND). In this case a strong back-flow effect essentially determines the LCD dynamic characteristics. A number of shear viscosity coefficients defines the LCD response time. The proposed method is based on the special type of a shear flow, namely, the decay flow, in the LC cell with suitably treated substrates instead of magnetic or electric field application. A linear regime of a quasi-stationary director motion induced by a pressure difference and a proper configuration of a LC cell produces decay flow conditions in the LC cell. We determine three principal shear viscosity coefficients by measuring relative time variations of the intensity of the light passed through LC cells. The shear viscosity coefficient measurements provide a new opportunity for the development of new LC mixtures with fast response times in VAN, BND and other important LCD types.     

Optical response of a nematic liquid crystal cell at the splay - bend transition: a model and dynamic simulation

We study the dynamical optical response of a nematic liquid crystal cell that undergoes the splay-bend transition after applying a voltage across the cell. We formulate a simplified model that takes into account both the flexoelectric coupling and the surface rotational viscosity. The dynamic equations of the model are solved numerically to calculate the temporal evolution of the director profile and of the transmittance. We evaluate the response time as a function of a number of parameters, such as dielectric and elastic anisotropies, asymmetry of the surface pretilt angles, anchoring energy, surface rotational viscosity and flexoelectricity.     

Probing Viscosity of Co-Polymer Hydrogel and HeLa Cell Using Fluorescent Gold Nanoclusters: Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy and Anisotropy Decay

Fluorescence dynamics of gold nanoclusters (Au₉ and Au₂₅) are studied in the complex and crowded environment of a triblock co-polymer (F127) hydrogel and inside cervical cancer cell, HeLa. In the hydrogel, spherical micelles of F127 remain immobilized with a hydrophobic core (PPO) and a hydrophilic corona (PEO) region. The fluorescence anisotropy decay suggests that the timescale of rotational relaxation in the hydrogel is similar to that in bulk water (viscosity ∼1 cP). From fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) it is inferred that the local viscosity in the hydrogel is 12 cP for Au₉ and 18 cP for Au₂₃. These results indicate that gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) localize in the corona region of the hydrogel. Evidently, frictions against rotation and translation are different inside the gel. It is suggested that rotation of the AuNCs senses the immediate water-like “void” region while translation motion involves in-and-out movement of the AuNCs at the periphery of the gel. Finally, the gold nanoclusters are used for cell imaging and estimation of intracellular viscosity of HeLa cells.     

红光发射分子转子的设计与合成

粘度对细胞微环境的维持非常重要。检测细胞内的粘度一般采用分子转子,而目前大多数的分子转子发射波长较短,不利于生物成像,为此我们设计了基于扭转分子内电荷转移(TICT)机理,通过共轭双键连接吸电子基和给电子基的红光发射的分子转子2-(2-(4-氨基苯乙烯基)-4-H-吡喃-4-亚基)-丙二腈(DCM-NH_2)。DCM-NH_2的最大发射波长为631 nm,属于远红光,能有效减少生物背景,提高成像信噪比。该探针对粘度有很好的响应,具有非常宽的线性响应范围(0.6~458.6 c P),同时也具有较高的灵敏度。     

A Molecular Rotor that Measures Dynamic Changes of Lipid Bilayer Viscosity Caused by Oxidative Stress

Oxidation of cellular structures is typically an undesirable process that can be a hallmark of certain diseases. On the other hand, photooxidation is a necessary step of photodynamic therapy (PDT), a cancer treatment causing cell death upon light irradiation. Here, the effect of photooxidation on the microscopic viscosity of model lipid bilayers constructed of 1,2‐dioleoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine has been studied. A molecular rotor has been employed that displays a viscosity‐dependent fluorescence lifetime as a quantitative probe of the bilayer's viscosity. Thus, spatially‐resolved viscosity maps of lipid photooxidation in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) were obtained, testing the effect of the positioning of the oxidant relative to the rotor in the bilayer. It was found that PDT has a strong impact on viscoelastic properties of lipid bilayers, which ‘travels’ through the bilayer to areas that have not been irradiated directly. A dramatic difference in viscoelastic properties of oxidized GUVs by Type I (electron transfer) and Type II (singlet oxygen‐based) photosensitisers was also detected.