Nonlinear elasticity of composite networks of stiff biopolymers with flexible linkers

Motivated by recent experiments showing nonlinear elasticity of in vitro networks of the biopolymer actin cross-linked with filamin, we present an effective medium theory of flexibly cross-linked stiff polymer networks. We model such networks by randomly oriented elastic rods connected by flexible c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2008-09, Vol.101 (11), p.118103-118103, Article 118103
Main Authors: Broedersz, C P, Storm, C, MacKintosh, F C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actins - chemistry
Algorithms
Biopolymers - chemistry
Computer Simulation
Contractile Proteins - chemistry
Cross-Linking Reagents - chemistry
Elasticity
Filamins
Microfilament Proteins - chemistry
Nonlinear Dynamics
Shear Strength
Stress, Mechanical
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Summary:Motivated by recent experiments showing nonlinear elasticity of in vitro networks of the biopolymer actin cross-linked with filamin, we present an effective medium theory of flexibly cross-linked stiff polymer networks. We model such networks by randomly oriented elastic rods connected by flexible connectors to a surrounding elastic continuum, which self-consistently represents the behavior of the rest of the network. This model yields a crossover from a linear elastic regime to a highly nonlinear elastic regime that stiffens in a way quantitatively consistent with experiment.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.118103