Cross-linked actin networks: Micro- and macroscopic effects |
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| Authors: | Sandra Klinge Serhat Aygün Jörn Mosler Gerhard A. Holzapfel |
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| Affiliation: | 1. TU Dortmund University, Institute of Mechanics, Leonhard-Euler-Str. 5, 44227 Dortmund, Germany;2. Graz University of Technology, Institute of Biomechanics, Stremayrgasse 16/2, 8010 Graz, Austria Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Faculty of Engineering Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway |
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| Abstract: | Actin plays a crucial role in the mechanical response of cells. Together with other proteins, it also drives protrusion, motility and cell division. Two important aspects of the mechanical modeling of this kind of protein are considered: its microscopic and macroscopic behavior. At the microscopic level, we start with a model proposed by Holzapfel and Ogden [1] providing a relationship between the stretch of a single polymer chain and the applied tension force. The model is advantageous as it simulates the so-called ‘exceptional normal stresses’. This effect is typical for biopolymers and contradicts with the Poynting effect typically observed in rubber-like polymers. The multiscale finite element method (FEM) is applied to simulate the effective mechanical behavior of cell cytoplasm. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) |
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