Elasticity of the Lens Capsule as Measured by Osmotic Swelling

Basement membranes are planar extracellular matrices ubiquitous within tissues and serve roles in the organization, support and regulation of resident cell populations. The ocular lens capsule is experimentally accessible accounting for its wide use as a model in studies of basement membrane mechanics [1–3]. Optical tracking of passive osmotic swelling, unlike previously employed methods of determining the elasticity of the lens capsule, involves minimal manipulation of the lens, which is desirable when using smaller animal models, such as the mouse.