Microrheology mapping in complex and intracellular fluids. – MicroRheoCell

Understanding fundamental phenomena underlying macroscopic observations becomes critical in processing, dispensing and in increasing durability and dynamic performance of complex media. Measurements of the microviscosity of complex fluids deal with local properties in heterogeneous samples that are inaccessible to conventional rheological measurements. However, microrheology measurements of complex fluids and intracellular fluids at the micro-scale is still at its infancy and presents technical and scientific challenges. Taking advantage of the fascinating properties of molecular rotors (MRs), the micro-RheoCell project proposes to use MRs nanoplatforms for microviscosity measurements in complex and in intracellular fluids in order to develop applications in numerous fields that can go from fundamental research, industrial or chemical engineering to intracellular mechanics studies. Three objectives are proposed in this project: 1) the development of engineered MRs that accurately respond to the microviscosity of the surrounding medium, 2) the development of multifunctional particles (MR-NP) to quantify simultaneously the velocity field and the microrheology of the environment fluid and 3) the application of MRs in solution and of the MR-NP in complex systems including polymers, gels, giant micelles and intracellular fluids. This project follows the successful Microviscotor project funded by the ANR in 2018. The interdisciplinary consortium proposed gathers high level scientists experts in chemistry, physics, physical-chemistry, chemical engineering, biophysics and cell mechanics. Recent results obtained by the consortium are included in the project and fully respond to the questions raised during the AAP 2023.