US-France Cooperative Research: Microrheology of Complex Fluids

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Abstract

9910103 Harden This three-year award for U.S.-France collaboration in materials research involves James L. Harden and Frederick MacKintosh of Johns Hopkins University and Jean-Pierre Munch of the Physics Institute of the University Louis Pasteur in Strasbourg, France. The investigators will study by microrheology the viscoelastic properties of a diverse range of soft materials for which conventional approaches are inadequate. The materials include newly discovered filamentous surfactant self-assemblies, concentrated colloidal suspension of anisotropic particles (clay gels and slurries), and micrometer sized complexes of lip membranes with attached two-dimensional biopolymer gels. The U.S. investigators bring to this collaboration expertise in theory and propose to develop a theoretical framework for applications of microrheology. This is complemented by French expertise in conventional rheology and preparation of biopolymer materials. The project will advance our understanding of the microrheology method and its potential for studies of material properties (including living cells). This award represents the U.S. side of a joint proposal to the NSF and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). NSF will cover travel funds and living expenses for the U.S. investigators and graduate student. The CNRS will support the visits of the French researchers to the United States.