Wang C, Li J, Zhao L, Qian P. Shape transformations of red blood cells in the capillary and their possible connections to oxygen transportation.
J Biol Phys 2022;
48:79-92. [PMID:
34799817 PMCID:
PMC8866595 DOI:
10.1007/s10867-021-09594-5]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, a series of numerical simulations have been performed to obtain the steady shapes of red blood cells under a shear force field in the capillary. Two possible classes of steady shapes, the axisymmetric parachute and the non-axisymmetric parachute, are found. If we assume that oxygen diffusion across the red cell membrane is mediated by membrane curvature, it is found that the non-axisymmetric parachute will be more favorable due to its special shape which enables it to have a larger portion of membrane patch capable of releasing oxygen to tissues.
Collapse