Mechanics as a moving target: adaptive rheology of endothelial cells

Vascular pathologies occur in regions where endothelial cells (ECs) are exposed to rapidly changing fluid shear stress. While EC morphological and mechanical adaptations to long-term physiological shear stress have been studied extensively, it is not clear whether ECs respond to shear stress on the time scale of secs-mins. We are studying the rapid changes in cell mechanics due to applied fluid flow using particle tracking microrheology and viscoelasticity theory. 

For more information, please see our recent publication in American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology.