Comparative analysis of viscosity of complex liquids and cytoplasm of mammalian cells at the nanoscale

Nano Lett. 2011 May 11;11(5):2157-63. doi: 10.1021/nl2008218. Epub 2011 Apr 22.

Abstract

We present a scaling formula for size-dependent viscosity coefficients for proteins, polymers, and fluorescent dyes diffusing in complex liquids. The formula was used to analyze the mobilities of probes of different sizes in HeLa and Swiss 3T3 mammalian cells. This analysis unveils in the cytoplasm two length scales: (i) the correlation length ξ (approximately 5 nm in HeLa and 7 nm in Swiss 3T3 cells) and (ii) the limiting length scale that marks the crossover between nano- and macroscale viscosity (approximately 86 nm in HeLa and 30 nm in Swiss 3T3 cells). During motion, probes smaller than ξ experienced matrix viscosity: η(matrix) ≈ 2.0 mPa·s for HeLa and 0.88 mPa·s for Swiss 3T3 cells. Probes much larger than the limiting length scale experienced macroscopic viscosity, η(macro) ≈ 4.4 × 10(-2) and 2.4 × 10(-2) Pa·s for HeLa and Swiss 3T3 cells, respectively. Our results are persistent for the lengths scales from 0.14 nm to a few hundred nanometers.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism*
  • Diffusion
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Micelles
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry
  • Pressure
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Micelles
  • Polymers
  • Polystyrenes