On micro-bead mechanics with actin filaments

Abstract

Experiments have been performed using microscopic beads to probe the small scale mechanics of actin solutions. We show that that there are a number of regimes possible as a function of the size of the probing particle. In certain cases we argue that the quasi-static response resembles a smectic crystal rather than an isotropic solid, implying an anomalous scaling of the mechanical response of actin solutions as a function of the size of the probing particles.