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Prudinnik DS, Kussanova A, Vorobjev IA, Tikhonov A, Ataullakhanov FI, Barteneva NS. Deformability of Heterogeneous Red Blood Cells in Aging and Related Pathologies. Aging Dis 2025:AD.2024.0526. [PMID: 39012672 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is interrelated with changes in red blood cell parameters and functionality. In this article, we focus on red blood cells (RBCs) and provide a review of the known changes associated with the characterization of RBC deformability in aging and related pathologies. The biophysical parameters complement the commonly used biochemical parameters and may contribute to a better understanding of the aging process. The power of the deformability measurement approach is well established in clinical settings. Measuring RBCs' deformability has the advantage of relative simplicity, and it reflects the complex effects developing in erythrocytes during aging. However, aging and related pathological conditions also promote heterogeneity of RBC features and have a certain impact on the variance in erythrocyte cell properties. The possible applications of deformability as an early biophysical biomarker of pathological states are discussed, and modulating PIEZO1 as a therapeutic target is suggested. The changes in RBCs' shape can serve as a proxy for deformability evaluation, leveraging single-cell analysis with imaging flow cytometry and artificial intelligence algorithms. The characterization of biophysical parameters of RBCs is in progress in humans and will provide a better understanding of the complex dynamics of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry S Prudinnik
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Aigul Kussanova
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Ivan A Vorobjev
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Alexander Tikhonov
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Fazly I Ataullakhanov
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Natasha S Barteneva
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
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2
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Rejuan R, Aulisa E, Li W, Thompson T, Kumar S, Canic S, Wang Y. Validation of a Microfluidic Device Prototype for Cancer Detection and Identification: Circulating Tumor Cells Classification Based on Cell Trajectory Analysis Leveraging Cell-Based Modeling and Machine Learning. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.19.608572. [PMID: 39229148 PMCID: PMC11370430 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.19.608572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices (MDs) present a novel method for detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs), enhancing the process through targeted techniques and visual inspection. However, current approaches often yield heterogeneous CTC populations, necessitating additional processing for comprehensive analysis and phenotype identification. These procedures are often expensive, time-consuming, and need to be performed by skilled technicians. In this study, we investigate the potential of a cost-effective and efficient hyperuniform micropost MD approach for CTC classification. Our approach combines mathematical modeling of fluid-structure interactions in a simulated microfluidic channel with machine learning techniques. Specifically, we developed a cell-based modeling framework to assess CTC dynamics in erythrocyte-laden plasma flow, generating a large dataset of CTC trajectories that account for two distinct CTC phenotypes. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) were then employed to analyze the dataset and classify these phenotypes. The results demonstrate the potential effectiveness of the hyperuniform micropost MD design and analysis approach in distinguishing between different CTC phenotypes based on cell trajectory, offering a promising avenue for early cancer detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rifat Rejuan
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Eugenio Aulisa
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Travis Thompson
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Sanjoy Kumar
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
- Department of Mathematics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Suncica Canic
- Department of Mathematics, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Yifan Wang
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
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3
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Recktenwald SM, Rashidi Y, Graham I, Arratia PE, Del Giudice F, Wagner C. Morphology, repulsion, and ordering of red blood cells in viscoelastic flows under confinement. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:4950-4963. [PMID: 38873747 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00446a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Red blood cells (RBC), the primary carriers of oxygen in the body, play a crucial role across several biomedical applications, while also being an essential model system of a deformable object in the microfluidics and soft matter fields. However, RBC behavior in viscoelastic liquids, which holds promise in enhancing microfluidic diagnostic applications, remains poorly studied. We here show that using viscoelastic polymer solutions as a suspending carrier causes changes in the clustering and shape of flowing RBC in microfluidic flows when compared to a standard Newtonian suspending liquid. Additionally, when the local RBC concentration increases to a point where hydrodynamic interactions take place, we observe the formation of equally-spaced RBC structures, resembling the viscoelasticity-driven ordered particles observed previously in the literature, thus providing the first experimental evidence of viscoelasticity-driven cell ordering. The observed RBC ordering, unaffected by polymer molecular architecture, persists as long as the surrounding medium exhibits shear-thinning, viscoelastic properties. Complementary numerical simulations reveal that viscoelasticity-induced repulsion between RBCs leads to equidistant structures, with shear-thinning modulating this effect. Our results open the way for the development of new biomedical technologies based on the use of viscoelastic liquids while also clarifying fundamental aspects related to multibody hydrodynamic interactions in viscoelastic microfluidic flows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen M Recktenwald
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
- Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Yazdan Rashidi
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
| | - Ian Graham
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Paulo E Arratia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Francesco Del Giudice
- Complex Fluid Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA1 8EN, UK
| | - Christian Wagner
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
- Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-1511 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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Kim J, Lee SJ. Digital in-line holographic microscopy for label-free identification and tracking of biological cells. Mil Med Res 2024; 11:38. [PMID: 38867274 PMCID: PMC11170804 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-024-00541-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Digital in-line holographic microscopy (DIHM) is a non-invasive, real-time, label-free technique that captures three-dimensional (3D) positional, orientational, and morphological information from digital holographic images of living biological cells. Unlike conventional microscopies, the DIHM technique enables precise measurements of dynamic behaviors exhibited by living cells within a 3D volume. This review outlines the fundamental principles and comprehensive digital image processing procedures employed in DIHM-based cell tracking methods. In addition, recent applications of DIHM technique for label-free identification and digital tracking of various motile biological cells, including human blood cells, spermatozoa, diseased cells, and unicellular microorganisms, are thoroughly examined. Leveraging artificial intelligence has significantly enhanced both the speed and accuracy of digital image processing for cell tracking and identification. The quantitative data on cell morphology and dynamics captured by DIHM can effectively elucidate the underlying mechanisms governing various microbial behaviors and contribute to the accumulation of diagnostic databases and the development of clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihwan Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Joon Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 37673, Republic of Korea.
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Nouaman M, Darras A, Wagner C, Recktenwald SM. Confinement effect on the microcapillary flow and shape of red blood cells. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2024; 18:024104. [PMID: 38577010 PMCID: PMC10994673 DOI: 10.1063/5.0197208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The ability to change shape is essential for the proper functioning of red blood cells (RBCs) within the microvasculature. The shape of RBCs significantly influences blood flow and has been employed in microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices, serving as a diagnostic biomarker for specific pathologies and enabling the assessment of RBC deformability. While external flow conditions, such as the vessel size and the flow velocity, are known to impact microscale RBC flow, our comprehensive understanding of how their shape-adapting ability is influenced by channel confinement in biomedical applications remains incomplete. This study explores the impact of various rectangular and square channels, each with different confinement and aspect ratios, on the in vitro RBC flow behavior and characteristic shapes. We demonstrate that rectangular microchannels, with a height similar to the RBC diameter in combination with a confinement ratio exceeding 0.9, are required to generate distinctive well-defined croissant and slipper-like RBC shapes. These shapes are characterized by their equilibrium positions in the channel cross section, and we observe a strong elongation of both stable shapes in response to the shear rate across the different channels. Less confined channel configurations lead to the emergence of unstable other shape types that display rich shape dynamics. Our work establishes an experimental framework to understand the influence of channel size on the single-cell flow behavior of RBCs, providing valuable insights for the design of biomicrofluidic single-cell analysis applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Nouaman
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Alexis Darras
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
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Cheng X, Caruso C, Lam WA, Graham MD. Marginated aberrant red blood cells induce pathologic vascular stress fluctuations in a computational model of hematologic disorders. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadj6423. [PMID: 38019922 PMCID: PMC10686556 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj6423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Red blood cell (RBC) disorders such as sickle cell disease affect billions worldwide. While much attention focuses on altered properties of aberrant RBCs and corresponding hemodynamic changes, RBC disorders are also associated with vascular dysfunction, whose origin remains unclear and which provoke severe consequences including stroke. Little research has explored whether biophysical alterations of RBCs affect vascular function. We use a detailed computational model of blood that enables characterization of cell distributions and vascular stresses in blood disorders and compare simulation results with experimental observations. Aberrant RBCs, with their smaller size and higher stiffness, concentrate near vessel walls (marginate) because of contrasts in physical properties relative to normal cells. In a curved channel exemplifying the geometric complexity of the microcirculation, these cells distribute heterogeneously, indicating the importance of geometry. Marginated cells generate large transient stress fluctuations on vessel walls, indicating a mechanism for the observed vascular inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopo Cheng
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Christina Caruso
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30307, USA
| | - Wilbur A. Lam
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30307, USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Michael D. Graham
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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7
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Gou Z, Zhang H, Nait-Ouhra A, Abbasi M, Farutin A, Misbah C. Dynamics and rheology of vesicles under confined Poiseuille flow. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:9101-9114. [PMID: 37990752 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01064c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
The rheological behavior and dynamics of a vesicle suspension, serving as a simplified model for red blood cells, are explored within a Poiseuille flow under the Stokes limit. Investigating vesicle response has led to the identification of novel solutions that complement previously documented forms like the parachute and slipper shapes. This study has brought to light the existence of alternative configurations, including a fully off-centered form and a multilobe structure. The study unveils the presence of two distinct branches associated with the slipper shape. One branch arises as a consequence of a supercritical bifurcation from the symmetric parachute shape, while the other emerges from a saddle-node bifurcation. Notably, the findings are represented through diagrams that display data collapsing harmoniously based on a combination of independent dimensionless parameters. Delving into the rheological implications, a remarkable observation emerges: the normalized viscosity (i.e. similar to intrinsic viscosity) exhibits a non-monotonic trend as a function of vesicle concentration. Initially, the normalized viscosity diminishes as the concentration increases, followed by a subsequent rise at higher concentrations. Noteworthy is the presence of a minimum value in the normalized viscosity at lower concentrations, aligning well with the concentrations observed in microcirculation scenarios. The intricate behavior of the normalized viscosity can be attributed to a delicate spatial arrangement within the suspension. Importantly, this trend echoes the observations made in a linear shear flow scenario, thereby underscoring the universality of the rheological behavior for confined suspensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Gou
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Hengdi Zhang
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Abdessamad Nait-Ouhra
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
- Laboratoire de Matière Condensée et Sciences Interdisciplinaires, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat 1014, Morocco
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, GeoRessources, Nancy, 54000, France
| | - Mehdi Abbasi
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
| | | | - Chaouqi Misbah
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France.
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8
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Bureau L, Coupier G, Salez T. Lift at low Reynolds number. THE EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL. E, SOFT MATTER 2023; 46:111. [PMID: 37957450 DOI: 10.1140/epje/s10189-023-00369-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Lift forces are widespread in hydrodynamics. These are typically observed for big and fast objects and are often associated with a combination of fluid inertia (i.e. large Reynolds numbers) and specific symmetry-breaking mechanisms. In contrast, the properties of viscosity-dominated (i.e. low Reynolds numbers) flows make it more difficult for such lift forces to emerge. However, the inclusion of boundary effects qualitatively changes this picture. Indeed, in the context of soft and biological matter, recent studies have revealed the emergence of novel lift forces generated by boundary softness, flow gradients and/or surface charges. The aim of the present review is to gather and analyse this corpus of literature, in order to identify and unify the questioning within the associated communities, and pave the way towards future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Bureau
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, 38000, Grenoble, France.
| | | | - Thomas Salez
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, LOMA, UMR 5798, 33400, Talence, France.
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9
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Akerkouch L, Le T. Shape Transitions of Red Blood Cell under Oscillatory Flows in Microchannels. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3296659. [PMID: 37693621 PMCID: PMC10491371 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3296659/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
This paper aims to examine the ability to control Red Blood Cell (RBCs) dynamics and the associated extracellular flow patterns in microfluidic channels via oscillatory flows. Our computational approach employs a hybrid continuum-particle coupling, in which the cell membrane and cytosol fluid are modeled using the Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) method. The blood plasma is modeled as an incompressible fluid via the Immersed Boundary Method (IBM). This coupling is novel because it provides an accurate description of RBC dynamics while the extracellular flow patterns around the RBCs are also captured in detail. Our coupling methodology is validated with available experimental and computational data in the literature and shows excellent agreement. We explore the controlling regimes by varying the shape of the oscillatory flow waveform at the channel inlet. Our simulation results show that a host of RBC morphological dynamics emerges depending on the channel geometry, the incoming flow waveform, and the RBC initial location. Complex dynamics of RBC are induced by the flow waveform. Our results show that the RBC shape is strongly dependent on its initial location. Our results suggest that the controlling of oscillatory flows can be used to induce specific morphological shapes of RBCs and the surrounding fluid patterns in bio-engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lahcen Akerkouch
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1410 14th N, Fargo, 58102, ND, USA
| | - Trung Le
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1410 14th N, Fargo, 58102, ND, USA
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10
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Rashidi Y, Aouane O, Darras A, John T, Harting J, Wagner C, Recktenwald SM. Cell-free layer development and spatial organization of healthy and rigid red blood cells in a microfluidic bifurcation. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:6255-6266. [PMID: 37522517 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00517h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Bifurcations and branches in the microcirculation dramatically affect blood flow as they determine the spatiotemporal organization of red blood cells (RBCs). Such changes in vessel geometries can further influence the formation of a cell-free layer (CFL) close to the vessel walls. Biophysical cell properties, such as their deformability, which is impaired in various diseases, are often thought to impact blood flow and affect the distribution of flowing RBCs. This study investigates the flow behavior of healthy and artificially hardened RBCs in a bifurcating microfluidic T-junction. We determine the RBC distribution across the channel width at multiple positions before and after the bifurcation. Thus, we reveal distinct focusing profiles in the feeding mother channel for rigid and healthy RBCs that dramatically impact the cell organization in the successive daughter channels. Moreover, we experimentally show how the characteristic asymmetric CFLs in the daughter vessels develop along their flow direction. Complimentary numerical simulations indicate that the buildup of the CFL is faster for healthy than for rigid RBCs. Our results provide fundamental knowledge to understand the partitioning of rigid RBC as a model of cells with pathologically impaired deformability in complex in vitro networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazdan Rashidi
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
| | - Othmane Aouane
- Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexis Darras
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
| | - Thomas John
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
| | - Jens Harting
- Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Department of Physics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Wagner
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg, 1511 Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
| | - Steffen M Recktenwald
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.
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11
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Nouaman M, Darras A, John T, Simionato G, Rab MAE, van Wijk R, Laschke MW, Kaestner L, Wagner C, Recktenwald SM. Effect of Cell Age and Membrane Rigidity on Red Blood Cell Shape in Capillary Flow. Cells 2023; 12:1529. [PMID: 37296651 PMCID: PMC10252257 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood flow in the microcirculatory system is crucially affected by intrinsic red blood cell (RBC) properties, such as their deformability. In the smallest vessels of this network, RBCs adapt their shapes to the flow conditions. Although it is known that the age of RBCs modifies their physical properties, such as increased cytosol viscosity and altered viscoelastic membrane properties, the evolution of their shape-adapting abilities during senescence remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of RBC properties on the microcapillary in vitro flow behavior and their characteristic shapes in microfluidic channels. For this, we fractioned RBCs from healthy donors according to their age. Moreover, the membranes of fresh RBCs were chemically rigidified using diamide to study the effect of isolated graded-membrane rigidity. Our results show that a fraction of stable, asymmetric, off-centered slipper-like cells at high velocities decreases with increasing age or diamide concentration. However, while old cells form an enhanced number of stable symmetric croissants at the channel centerline, this shape class is suppressed for purely rigidified cells with diamide. Our study provides further knowledge about the distinct effects of age-related changes of intrinsic cell properties on the single-cell flow behavior of RBCs in confined flows due to inter-cellular age-related cell heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Nouaman
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Alexis Darras
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Thomas John
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Greta Simionato
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Minke A. E. Rab
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory-Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Richard van Wijk
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory-Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Matthias W. Laschke
- Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Lars Kaestner
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Theoretical Medicine and Biosciences, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Christian Wagner
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, L-1511 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Steffen M. Recktenwald
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
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12
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Merlo A, Losserand S, Yaya F, Connes P, Faivre M, Lorthois S, Minetti C, Nader E, Podgorski T, Renoux C, Coupier G, Franceschini E. Influence of storage and buffer composition on the mechanical behavior of flowing red blood cells. Biophys J 2023; 122:360-373. [PMID: 36476993 PMCID: PMC9892622 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
On-chip study of blood flow has emerged as a powerful tool to assess the contribution of each component of blood to its overall function. Blood has indeed many functions, from gas and nutrient transport to immune response and thermal regulation. Red blood cells play a central role therein, in particular through their specific mechanical properties, which directly influence pressure regulation, oxygen perfusion, or platelet and white cell segregation toward endothelial walls. As the bloom of in-vitro studies has led to the apparition of various storage and sample preparation protocols, we address the question of the robustness of the results involving cell mechanical behavior against this diversity. The effects of three conservation media (EDTA, citrate, and glucose-albumin-sodium-phosphate) and storage time on the red blood cell mechanical behavior are assessed under different flow conditions: cell deformability by ektacytometry, shape recovery of cells flowing out of a microfluidic constriction, and cell-flipping dynamics under shear flow. The impact of buffer solutions (phosphate-buffered saline and density-matched suspension using iodixanol/Optiprep) are also studied by investigating individual cell-flipping dynamics, relative viscosity of cell suspensions, and cell structuration under Poiseuille flow. Our results reveal that storing blood samples up to 7 days after withdrawal and suspending them in adequate density-matched buffer solutions has, in most experiments, a moderate effect on the overall mechanical response, with a possible rapid evolution in the first 3 days after sample collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adlan Merlo
- GDR MECABIO, France; Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse (IMFT), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France; Biomechanics and Bioengineering Laboratory (UMR 7338), Université de Technologie de Compiègne - CNRS, Compiègne, France
| | - Sylvain Losserand
- GDR MECABIO, France; Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, Grenoble, France
| | - François Yaya
- GDR MECABIO, France; Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, Grenoble, France
| | - Philippe Connes
- GDR MECABIO, France; Team 'Vascular Biology and Red Blood Cell', Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité (LIBM) EA7424, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence du Globule Rouge (Labex GR-Ex), PRES Sorbonne, Paris, France
| | - Magalie Faivre
- GDR MECABIO, France; University Lyon, CNRS, INSA Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CPE Lyon, INL, UMR5270, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Sylvie Lorthois
- GDR MECABIO, France; Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse (IMFT), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Christophe Minetti
- Aero Thermo Mechanics CP 165/43, Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elie Nader
- GDR MECABIO, France; Team 'Vascular Biology and Red Blood Cell', Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité (LIBM) EA7424, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence du Globule Rouge (Labex GR-Ex), PRES Sorbonne, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Podgorski
- GDR MECABIO, France; Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, Grenoble, France; Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LRP, Grenoble, France
| | - Céline Renoux
- GDR MECABIO, France; Team 'Vascular Biology and Red Blood Cell', Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité (LIBM) EA7424, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Villeurbanne, France; Laboratoire d'Excellence du Globule Rouge (Labex GR-Ex), PRES Sorbonne, Paris, France; Service de biochimie et biologie moléculaire, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Gwennou Coupier
- GDR MECABIO, France; Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, Grenoble, France.
| | - Emilie Franceschini
- GDR MECABIO, France; Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, LMA, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France.
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13
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Gürbüz A, Pak OS, Taylor M, Sivaselvan MV, Sachs F. Effects of membrane viscoelasticity on the red blood cell dynamics in a microcapillary. Biophys J 2023:S0006-3495(23)00026-7. [PMID: 36639868 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanical properties of red blood cells (RBCs) play key roles in their biological functions in microcirculation. In particular, RBCs must deform significantly to travel through microcapillaries with sizes comparable with or even smaller than their own. Although the dynamics of RBCs in microcapillaries have received considerable attention, the effect of membrane viscoelasticity has been largely overlooked. In this work, we present a computational study based on the boundary integral method and thin-shell mechanics to examine how membrane viscoelasticity influences the dynamics of RBCs flowing through straight and constricted microcapillaries. Our results reveal that the cell with a viscoelastic membrane undergoes substantially different motion and deformation compared with results based on a purely elastic membrane model. Comparisons with experimental data also suggest the importance of accounting for membrane viscoelasticity to properly capture the transient dynamics of an RBC flowing through a microcapillary. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the significant effects of membrane viscoelasticity on RBC dynamics in different microcapillary environments. The computational framework also lays the groundwork for more accurate quantitative modeling of the mechanical response of RBCs in their mechanotransduction process in subsequent investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Gürbüz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California.
| | - On Shun Pak
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California
| | - Michael Taylor
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California
| | - Mettupalayam V Sivaselvan
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Frederick Sachs
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
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14
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Recktenwald SM, Simionato G, Lopes MGM, Gamboni F, Dzieciatkowska M, Meybohm P, Zacharowski K, von Knethen A, Wagner C, Kaestner L, D'Alessandro A, Quint S. Cross-talk between red blood cells and plasma influences blood flow and omics phenotypes in severe COVID-19. eLife 2022; 11:e81316. [PMID: 36537079 PMCID: PMC9767455 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and can affect multiple organs, among which is the circulatory system. Inflammation and mortality risk markers were previously detected in COVID-19 plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) metabolic and proteomic profiles. Additionally, biophysical properties, such as deformability, were found to be changed during the infection. Based on such data, we aim to better characterize RBC functions in COVID-19. We evaluate the flow properties of RBCs in severe COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit by using microfluidic techniques and automated methods, including artificial neural networks, for an unbiased RBC analysis. We find strong flow and RBC shape impairment in COVID-19 samples and demonstrate that such changes are reversible upon suspension of COVID-19 RBCs in healthy plasma. Vice versa, healthy RBCs resemble COVID-19 RBCs when suspended in COVID-19 plasma. Proteomics and metabolomics analyses allow us to detect the effect of plasma exchanges on both plasma and RBCs and demonstrate a new role of RBCs in maintaining plasma equilibria at the expense of their flow properties. Our findings provide a framework for further investigations of clinical relevance for therapies against COVID-19 and possibly other infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen M Recktenwald
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland UniversitySaarbrückenGermany
| | - Greta Simionato
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland UniversitySaarbrückenGermany
- Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Campus University Hospital, Saarland UniversityHomburgGermany
| | - Marcelle GM Lopes
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland UniversitySaarbrückenGermany
- Cysmic GmbHSaarbrückenGermany
| | - Fabia Gamboni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado DenverAuroraUnited States
| | - Monika Dzieciatkowska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado DenverAuroraUnited States
| | - Patrick Meybohm
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency and Pain Medicine, University Hospital WuerzburgWuerzburgGermany
| | - Kai Zacharowski
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital FrankfurtFrankfurtGermany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMPFrankfurtGermany
| | - Andreas von Knethen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital FrankfurtFrankfurtGermany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMPFrankfurtGermany
| | - Christian Wagner
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland UniversitySaarbrückenGermany
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of LuxembourgLuxembourg CityLuxembourg
| | - Lars Kaestner
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland UniversitySaarbrückenGermany
- Theoretical Medicine and Biosciences, Campus University Hospital, Saarland UniversityHomburgGermany
| | - Angelo D'Alessandro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado DenverAuroraUnited States
| | - Stephan Quint
- Dynamics of Fluids, Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland UniversitySaarbrückenGermany
- Cysmic GmbHSaarbrückenGermany
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15
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Alexy T, Detterich J, Connes P, Toth K, Nader E, Kenyeres P, Arriola-Montenegro J, Ulker P, Simmonds MJ. Physical Properties of Blood and their Relationship to Clinical Conditions. Front Physiol 2022; 13:906768. [PMID: 35874542 PMCID: PMC9298661 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.906768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been long known that blood health heavily influences optimal physiological function. Abnormalities affecting the physical properties of blood have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various disorders, although the exact mechanistic links between hemorheology and clinical disease manifestations remain poorly understood. Often overlooked in current medical practice, perhaps due to the promises offered in the molecular and genetic era, the physical properties of blood which remain a valuable and definitive indicator of circulatory health and disease. Bridging this gap, the current manuscript provides an introduction to hemorheology. It reviews the properties that dictate bulk and microcirculatory flow by systematically dissecting the biomechanics that determine the non-Newtonian behavior of blood. Specifically, the impact of hematocrit, the mechanical properties and tendency of red blood cells to aggregate, and various plasma factors on blood viscosity will be examined. Subsequently, the manner in which the physical properties of blood influence hemodynamics in health and disease is discussed. Special attention is given to disorders such as sickle cell disease, emphasizing the clinical impact of severely abnormal blood rheology. This review expands into concepts that are highly topical; the relation between mechanical stress and intracellular homeostasis is examined through a contemporary cell-signaling lens. Indeed, accumulating evidence demonstrates that nitric oxide is not only transported by erythrocytes, but is locally produced by mechanically-sensitive enzymes, which appears to have intracellular and potentially extracellular effects. Finally, given the importance of shear forces in the developing field of mechanical circulatory support, we review the role of blood rheology in temporary and durable mechanical circulatory support devices, an increasingly utilized method of life support. This review thus provides a comprehensive overview for interested trainees, scientists, and clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamas Alexy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Jon Detterich
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Philippe Connes
- Laboratory LIBM EA7424, Vascular Biology and Red Blood Cell Team, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Kalman Toth
- First Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Elie Nader
- Laboratory LIBM EA7424, Vascular Biology and Red Blood Cell Team, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Peter Kenyeres
- First Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary
| | - Jose Arriola-Montenegro
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Pinar Ulker
- Department of Physiology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Michael J Simmonds
- Biorheology Research Laboratory, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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16
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Recktenwald SM, Lopes MGM, Peter S, Hof S, Simionato G, Peikert K, Hermann A, Danek A, van Bentum K, Eichler H, Wagner C, Quint S, Kaestner L. Erysense, a Lab-on-a-Chip-Based Point-of-Care Device to Evaluate Red Blood Cell Flow Properties With Multiple Clinical Applications. Front Physiol 2022; 13:884690. [PMID: 35574449 PMCID: PMC9091344 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.884690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In many medical disciplines, red blood cells are discovered to be biomarkers since they "experience" various conditions in basically all organs of the body. Classical examples are diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. However, recently the red blood cell distribution width (RDW), is often referred to, as an unspecific parameter/marker (e.g., for cardiac events or in oncological studies). The measurement of RDW requires venous blood samples to perform the complete blood cell count (CBC). Here, we introduce Erysense, a lab-on-a-chip-based point-of-care device, to evaluate red blood cell flow properties. The capillary chip technology in combination with algorithms based on artificial neural networks allows the detection of very subtle changes in the red blood cell morphology. This flow-based method closely resembles in vivo conditions and blood sample volumes in the sub-microliter range are sufficient. We provide clinical examples for potential applications of Erysense as a diagnostic tool [here: neuroacanthocytosis syndromes (NAS)] and as cellular quality control for red blood cells [here: hemodiafiltration (HDF) and erythrocyte concentrate (EC) storage]. Due to the wide range of the applicable flow velocities (0.1-10 mm/s) different mechanical properties of the red blood cells can be addressed with Erysense providing the opportunity for differential diagnosis/judgments. Due to these versatile properties, we anticipate the value of Erysense for further diagnostic, prognostic, and theragnostic applications including but not limited to diabetes, iron deficiency, COVID-19, rheumatism, various red blood cell disorders and anemia, as well as inflammation-based diseases including sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcelle G. M. Lopes
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
- Cysmic GmbH, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Stephana Peter
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
- Theoretical Medicine and Biosciences, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Sebastian Hof
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
- Theoretical Medicine and Biosciences, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Greta Simionato
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
- Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, Campus University Hospital, Homburg, Germany
| | - Kevin Peikert
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht-Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht-Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
- DZNE, Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, Research Site Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany
- Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock (CTNR), University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Adrian Danek
- Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Hermann Eichler
- Institute for Clinical Hemostaseology and Transfusion Medicine, Saarland University and Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany
| | - Christian Wagner
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
| | - Stephan Quint
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
- Cysmic GmbH, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Lars Kaestner
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
- Theoretical Medicine and Biosciences, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
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