A noncontact, acoustic-tweezing method of measuring time-dependent rheological and polymerization properties of a sample comprising: a. levitating the sample by an acoustic tweezing system; b. modulating the amplitude of acoustic pressure applied to the sample by the acoustic tweezing system so as to induce deformation of the sample; c. capturing a plurality of images of the sample as a function of time; d. collecting photo-optical measurements selected from the group consisting of light intensity through the sample and turbidity of the sample over time and mechanical measurements comprising location and aspect ratio from the captured images of the levitating sample during deformation; e. determining at least one rheological property of the levitating sample from the collected mechanical measurements; and f. determining at least one kinetic property of sample polymerization, wherein the determining the at least one kinetic property of sample polymerization: i. comprises determining a photo-optical tweezograph from the photo-optical measurements of step d, determining a mechanical tweezograph from the mechanical measurements of step d, determining a monomer formation rate in the photo-optical tweezograph, determining a polymerization rate in the mechanical tweezograph, and determining a polymer network formation time as the time difference between the polymerization rate in the mechanical tweezograph and the monomer formation rate in the photo-optical tweezograph; and optionally additionally ii. comprises determining from the photo-optical tweezograph and/or the mechanical tweezograph one or more selected from the group consisting of: reaction time, maximum monomer level, polymerization onset, polymerization time and gel firmness. a. levitating the sample by an acoustic tweezing system; b. modulating the amplitude of acoustic pressure applied to the sample by the acoustic tweezing system so as to induce deformation of the sample; c. capturing a plurality of images of the sample as a function of time; d. collecting photo-optical measurements selected from the group consisting of light intensity through the sample and turbidity of the sample over time and mechanical measurements comprising location and aspect ratio from the captured images of the levitating sample during deformation; e. determining at least one rheological property of the levitating sample from the collected mechanical measurements; and f. determining at least one kinetic property of sample polymerization, i. comprises determining a photo-optical tweezograph from the photo-optical measurements of step d, determining a mechanical tweezograph from the mechanical measurements of step d, determining a monomer formation rate in the photo-optical tweezograph, determining a polymerization rate in the mechanical tweezograph, and determining a polymer network formation time as the time difference between the polymerization rate in the mechanical tweezograph and the monomer formation rate in the photo-optical tweezograph; and optionally additionally ii. comprises determining from the photo-optical tweezograph and/or the mechanical tweezograph one or more selected from the group consisting of: reaction time, maximum monomer level, polymerization onset, polymerization time and gel firmness.