Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42630024›Full record

ArticleACS macro letters2026

Stretching Mucins: Exploring the Complex Rheology of a Natural Glycoprotein Network.

Bianca Hazt, George D Degen, Lucas Warwaruk, Daniel J Read, Adam O'Connell, Oliver G Harlen, Gareth H McKinley, Anwesha Sarkar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in ACS macro letters, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Bianca HaztFood Colloids and Bioprocessing Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-7071-8008
George D DegenDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States.
Lucas WarwarukDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-0676-5971
Daniel J ReadSchool of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-1194-9273
Adam O'ConnellPolymer Science Platform, Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (U.K.) Ltd., Dansom Lane S, HullHU8 7DS, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-1904-9168
Oliver G HarlenSchool of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-4593-3547
Gareth H McKinleyDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts02139, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-8323-2779
Anwesha SarkarFood Colloids and Bioprocessing Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, LeedsLS2 9JT, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-1742-2122

Funding

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EP/S023631/1Reckitt Benckiser Group, Plc NA
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Flow and extensional deformation of mucin networks are fundamental in mucus biophysics, governing how mucus functions as a protective, lubricating, and transport-facilitating layer. While the shear and oscillatory rheology of mucin solutions have been characterized in considerable detail, their behavior under extensional deformation remains comparatively understudied. Here, we report a concentration-dependent transition in the extensional flow response of mucin solutions using a bespoke dripping-onto-substrate extensional rheometer. We show that mucin solutions at the lower concentrations undergo linear filament thinning, whereas semidilute mucin solutions form highly extensible filaments, with radius decaying exponentially in time, consistent with the elastocapillary thinning observed in solutions of high molecular weight synthetic polymers. Remarkably, at higher mucin concentrations interchain mucin associations produce a sudden reduction in the apparent elastocapillary relaxation time. We demonstrate how increasing macromolecular concentration redistributes the balance between viscous and elastic stresses during capillary thinning in a biopolymer network and reveal a concentration-driven reduction in mucin filament extensibility.

Identifiers

PMID42630024
PMCPMC13585127

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.