1
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Stathoulopoulos A, Passos A, Kaliviotis E, Balabani S. Partitioning of dense RBC suspensions in single microfluidic bifurcations: role of cell deformability and bifurcation angle. Sci Rep 2024; 14:535. [PMID: 38177195 PMCID: PMC10767057 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49849-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Red blood cells (RBCs) are a key determinant of human physiology and their behaviour becomes extremely heterogeneous as they navigate in narrow, bifurcating vessels in the microvasculature, affecting local haemodynamics. This is due to partitioning in bifurcations which is dependent on the biomechanical properties of RBCs, especially deformability. We examine the effect of deformability on the haematocrit distributions of dense RBC suspensions flowing in a single, asymmetric Y-shaped bifurcation, experimentally. Human RBC suspensions (healthy and artificially hardened) at 20% haematocrit (Ht) were perfused through the microchannels at different flow ratios between the outlet branches, and negligible inertia, and imaged to infer cell distributions. Notable differences in the shape of the haematocrit distributions were observed between healthy and hardened RBCs near the bifurcation apex. These lead to more asymmetric distributions for healthy RBCs in the daughter and outlet branches with cells accumulating near the inner channel walls, exhibiting distinct hematocrit peaks which are sharper for healthy RBCs. Although the hematocrit distributions differed locally, similar partitioning characteristics were observed for both suspensions. Comparisons with RBC distributions measured in a T-shaped bifurcation showed that the bifurcation angle affects the haematocrit characteristics of the healthy RBCs and not the hardened ones. The extent of RBC partitioning was found similar in both geometries and suspensions. The study highlights the differences between local and global characteristics which impact RBC distribution in more complex, multi-bifurcation networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonios Stathoulopoulos
- FluME, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London (UCL), London, WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Andreas Passos
- FluME, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London (UCL), London, WC1E 7JE, UK
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Efstathios Kaliviotis
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Stavroula Balabani
- FluME, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London (UCL), London, WC1E 7JE, UK.
- Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Interventional and Surgical Sciences, University College London (UCL), London, UK.
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2
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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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3
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Rashidi Y, Simionato G, Zhou Q, John T, Kihm A, Bendaoud M, Krüger T, Bernabeu MO, Kaestner L, Laschke MW, Menger MD, Wagner C, Darras A. Red blood cell lingering modulates hematocrit distribution in the microcirculation. Biophys J 2023; 122:1526-1537. [PMID: 36932676 PMCID: PMC10147840 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The distribution of red blood cells (RBCs) in the microcirculation determines the oxygen delivery and solute transport to tissues. This process relies on the partitioning of RBCs at successive bifurcations throughout the microvascular network, and it has been known since the last century that RBCs partition disproportionately to the fractional blood flow rate, therefore leading to heterogeneity of the hematocrit (i.e., volume fraction of RBCs in blood) in microvessels. Usually, downstream of a microvascular bifurcation, the vessel branch with a higher fraction of blood flow receives an even higher fraction of RBC flux. However, both temporal and time-average deviations from this phase-separation law have been observed in recent studies. Here, we quantify how the microscopic behavior of RBC lingering (i.e., RBCs temporarily residing near the bifurcation apex with diminished velocity) influences their partitioning, through combined in vivo experiments and in silico simulations. We developed an approach to quantify the cell lingering at highly confined capillary-level bifurcations and demonstrate that it correlates with deviations of the phase-separation process from established empirical predictions by Pries et al. Furthermore, we shed light on how the bifurcation geometry and cell membrane rigidity can affect the lingering behavior of RBCs; e.g., rigid cells tend to linger less than softer ones. Taken together, RBC lingering is an important mechanism that should be considered when studying how abnormal RBC rigidity in diseases such as malaria and sickle-cell disease could hinder the microcirculatory blood flow or how the vascular networks are altered under pathological conditions (e.g., thrombosis, tumors, aneurysm).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazdan Rashidi
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany.
| | - Greta Simionato
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany; Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Qi Zhou
- School of Engineering, Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas John
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Alexander Kihm
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany
| | - Mohammed Bendaoud
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany; Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, Grenoble, France; LaMCScI, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Timm Krüger
- School of Engineering, Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel O Bernabeu
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; The Bayes Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Kaestner
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany; Theoretical Medicine and Biosciences, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Matthias W Laschke
- Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Michael D Menger
- Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Christian Wagner
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany; Physics and Materials Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Alexis Darras
- Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken, Germany.
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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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5
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Weber-Fishkin S, Seidner HS, Gunter G, Frame MD. Erythrocyte aggregation in sudden flow arrest is linked to hyperthermia, hypoxemia, and band 3 availability. J Thromb Haemost 2022; 20:2284-2292. [PMID: 35841276 DOI: 10.1111/jth.15821] [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: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Erythrocyte aggregation is a phenomenon that is commonly found in several pathological disease states: stroke, myocardial infarction, thermal burn injury, and COVID-19. Erythrocyte aggregation is characterized by rouleaux, closely packed stacks of cells, forming three-dimensional structures. Healthy blood flow monodisperses the red blood cells (RBCs) throughout the vasculature; however, in select pathological conditions, involving hyperthermia and hypoxemia, rouleaux formation remains and results in occlusion of microvessels with decreased perfusion. OBJECTIVES Our objective is to address the kinetics of rouleaux formation with sudden cessation of flow in variable temperature and oxygen conditions. METHODS RBCs used in this in vitro system were obtained from healthy human donors. Using a vertical stop-flow system aligned with a microscope, images were acquired and analyzed for increased variation in grayscale to indicate increased aggregation. The onset of aggregation after sudden cessation of flow was determined at proscribed temperatures (37-49°C) and oxygen (0%, 10%), and in the presence and absence of 4, 4'-Diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid (DIDS). Both autologous and homologous plasma were tested. RESULTS RBCs in autologous plasma aggregate faster and with a higher magnitude with both hyperthermia and hypoxemia. Preventing deoxyhemoglobin from binding to band 3 with DIDS (dissociates the cytoskeleton from the membrane) fully blocks aggregation. Further, RBC aggregation magnitude is greater in autologous plasma. CONCLUSIONS We show that the C-terminal domain of band 3 plays a pivotal role in RBC aggregation. Further, aggregation is enhanced by hyperthermia and hypoxemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Weber-Fishkin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Harrison S Seidner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Geoffrey Gunter
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Mary D Frame
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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6
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Hyakutake T, Abe H, Miyoshi Y, Yasui M, Suzuki R, Tsurumaki S, Tsutsumi Y. In vitro study on the partitioning of red blood cells using a microchannel network. Microvasc Res 2021; 140:104281. [PMID: 34871649 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2021.104281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the partitioning properties of red blood cells (RBCs) in the bifurcating capillary vessels, an in vitro experiment was performed to perfuse human RBC suspensions into the microfluidic channels with a width of <10 μm. Two types of microchannel geometries were established. One is a single model comprising one parent and two daughter channels with different widths, and the other is a network model that had a symmetric geometry with four consecutive divergences and convergences. In addition to the fractional RBC flux at each bifurcation, changes in hematocrit levels and flow velocity before and after the bifurcation were investigated. In the single model, non-uniform partitioning of RBCs was observed, and this result was in good agreement with that of the empirical model. Furthermore, in the network model, the RBC distribution in the cross-section before the bifurcation significantly affected RBC partitioning in the two channels after the bifurcation. Hence, there was a large RBC heterogeneity in the capillary network. The hematocrit levels between the channels differed for more than one order of magnitude. Therefore, the findings of the current research could facilitate a better understanding of RBC partitioning properties in the microcirculatory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toru Hyakutake
- Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5, Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Abe
- Graduate School of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5, Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan
| | - Yohei Miyoshi
- Graduate School of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5, Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan
| | - Manabu Yasui
- Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 705-1, Shimoimaizumi, Ebina 243-0435, Japan
| | - Rina Suzuki
- Graduate School of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5, Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan
| | - Shunto Tsurumaki
- Graduate School of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5, Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan
| | - Yuya Tsutsumi
- Graduate School of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5, Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan
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7
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Isiksacan Z, Serhatlioglu M, Elbuken C. In vitro analysis of multiple blood flow determinants using red blood cell dynamics under oscillatory flow. Analyst 2021; 145:5996-6005. [PMID: 32720945 DOI: 10.1039/d0an00604a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The flow behavior of blood is determined mainly by red blood cell (RBC) deformation and aggregation as well as blood viscoelasticity. These intricately interdependent parameters should be monitored by healthcare providers to understand all aspects of circulatory flow dynamics under numerous cases including cardiovascular and infectious diseases. Current medical instruments and microfluidic systems lack the ability to quantify these parameters all at once and in physiologically relevant flow conditions. This work presents a handheld platform and a measurement method for quantitative analysis of multiple of these parameters from 50 μl undiluted blood inside a miniaturized channel. The assay is based on an optical transmission analysis of collective RBC deformation and aggregation under near-infrared illumination during a 1 s damped oscillatory flow and at stasis, respectively. Measurements with blood of different hemo-rheological properties demonstrate that the presented approach holds a potential for initiating simultaneous and routine on-chip blood flow analysis even in resource-poor settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziya Isiksacan
- UNAM - National Nanotechnology Research Center and Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
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Louka M, Kaliviotis E. Development of an Optical Method for the Evaluation of Whole Blood Coagulation. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2021; 11:bios11040113. [PMID: 33918734 PMCID: PMC8069220 DOI: 10.3390/bios11040113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Blood coagulation is a defense mechanism, which is activated in case of blood loss, due to vessel damage, or other injury. Pathological cases arise from malfunctions of the blood coagulation mechanism, and rapid growth of clots results in partially or even fully blocked blood vessel. The aim of this work is to characterize blood coagulation, by analyzing the time-dependent structural properties of whole blood, using an inexpensive design and robust processing approaches. The methods used in this work include brightfield microscopy and image processing techniques, applied on finger-prick blood samples. The blood samples were produced and directly utilized in custom-made glass microchannels. Color images were captured via a microscopy-camera setup for a period of 35 min, utilizing three different magnifications. Statistical information was extracted directly from the color components and the binary conversions of the images. The main advantage in the current work lies on a Boolean classification approach utilized on the binary data, which enabled to identify the interchange between specific structural elements of blood, namely the red blood cells, the plasma and the clotted regions, as a result of the clotting process. Coagulation indices produced included a bulk coagulation index, a plasma-reduction based index and a clot formation index. The results produced with the inexpensive design and the low computational complexity in the current approach, show good agreement with the literature, and a great potential for a robust characterization of blood coagulation.
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Boissier N, Drasdo D, Vignon-Clementel IE. Simulation of a detoxifying organ function: Focus on hemodynamics modeling and convection-reaction numerical simulation in microcirculatory networks. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2021; 37:e3422. [PMID: 33249746 DOI: 10.1002/cnm.3422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
When modeling a detoxifying organ function, an important component is the impact of flow on the metabolism of a compound of interest carried by the blood. We here study the effects of red blood cells (such as the Fahraeus-Lindqvist effect and plasma skimming) on blood flow in typical microcirculatory components such as tubes, bifurcations and entire networks, with particular emphasis on the liver as important representative of detoxifying organs. In one of the plasma skimming models, under certain conditions, oscillations between states are found and analyzed in a methodical study to identify their causes and influencing parameters. The flow solution obtained is then used to define the velocity at which a compound would be transported. A convection-reaction equation is studied to simulate the transport of a compound in blood and its uptake by the surrounding cells. Different types of signal sharpness have to be handled depending on the application to address different temporal compound concentration profiles. To permit executing the studied models numerically stable and accurate, we here extend existing transport schemes to handle converging bifurcations, and more generally multi-furcations. We study the accuracy of different numerical schemes as well as the effect of reactions and of the network itself on the bolus shape. Even though this study is guided by applications in liver micro-architecture, the proposed methodology is general and can readily be applied to other capillary network geometries, hence to other organs or to bioengineered network designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemie Boissier
- Inria, Paris, France
- Laboratoire Jacques-Louis Lions, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- IfADo - Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Dirk Drasdo
- Inria, Paris, France
- Laboratoire Jacques-Louis Lions, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
- IfADo - Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
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10
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Giannokostas K, Dimakopoulos Y, Anayiotos A, Tsamopoulos J. Advanced Constitutive Modeling of the Thixotropic Elasto-Visco-Plastic Behavior of Blood: Steady-State Blood Flow in Microtubes. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 14:E367. [PMID: 33451107 PMCID: PMC7828603 DOI: 10.3390/ma14020367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The present work focuses on the in-silico investigation of the steady-state blood flow in straight microtubes, incorporating advanced constitutive modeling for human blood and blood plasma. The blood constitutive model accounts for the interplay between thixotropy and elasto-visco-plasticity via a scalar variable that describes the level of the local blood structure at any instance. The constitutive model is enhanced by the non-Newtonian modeling of the plasma phase, which features bulk viscoelasticity. Incorporating microcirculation phenomena such as the cell-free layer (CFL) formation or the Fåhraeus and the Fåhraeus-Lindqvist effects is an indispensable part of the blood flow investigation. The coupling between them and the momentum balance is achieved through correlations based on experimental observations. Notably, we propose a new simplified form for the dependence of the apparent viscosity on the hematocrit that predicts the CFL thickness correctly. Our investigation focuses on the impact of the microtube diameter and the pressure-gradient on velocity profiles, normal and shear viscoelastic stresses, and thixotropic properties. We demonstrate the microstructural configuration of blood in steady-state conditions, revealing that blood is highly aggregated in narrow tubes, promoting a flat velocity profile. Additionally, the proper accounting of the CFL thickness shows that for narrow microtubes, the reduction of discharged hematocrit is significant, which in some cases is up to 70%. At high pressure-gradients, the plasmatic proteins in both regions are extended in the flow direction, developing large axial normal stresses, which are more significant in the core region. We also provide normal stress predictions at both the blood/plasma interface (INS) and the tube wall (WNS), which are difficult to measure experimentally. Both decrease with the tube radius; however, they exhibit significant differences in magnitude and type of variation. INS varies linearly from 4.5 to 2 Pa, while WNS exhibits an exponential decrease taking values from 50 mPa to zero.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Giannokostas
- Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Rheology, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (K.G.); (J.T.)
| | - Yannis Dimakopoulos
- Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Rheology, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (K.G.); (J.T.)
| | - Andreas Anayiotos
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus;
| | - John Tsamopoulos
- Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Rheology, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (K.G.); (J.T.)
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11
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Namgung B, Lee T, Tan JKS, Poh DKH, Park S, Chng KZ, Agrawal R, Park SY, Leo HL, Kim S. Vibration motor-integrated low-cost, miniaturized system for rapid quantification of red blood cell aggregation. LAB ON A CHIP 2020; 20:3930-3937. [PMID: 32966494 DOI: 10.1039/d0lc00619j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Human red blood cells (RBCs) aggregate under low shear conditions, which significantly modulates flow resistance and tissue perfusion. A higher aggregation tendency in blood thus serves as an important clinical indicator for the screening of cardiovascular disorders. Conventional ways of measuring RBC aggregation still require large sample volumes, cumbersome manual procedures, and expensive benchtop systems. These inconvenient and high-cost measurement methods hamper their clinical applicability. Here, we propose a low-cost, miniaturized system to overcome the limitations of these methods. Our system utilizes a coin vibration motor (CVM) to generate a localized vortex for disaggregating RBCs in a disposable fluidic chip. The design of the chip was optimized with fluid dynamics simulations to ensure sufficient shear flow in the localized vortex for RBC disaggregation. The time-dependent increase in light transmittance from an LED light source through the plasma gap while the RBCs re-aggregate is captured with a CMOS camera under stasis conditions to quantify the level of RBC aggregation. Our CVM-based aggregometer was validated against a commercial benchtop system for human blood samples under physiological and pathological conditions, and showed an excellent performance with a high intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.995. In addition, we were able to achieve a rapid measurement (<4 min) with the CVM-based aggregometer, requiring only a 6 μl blood sample. These illustrate the potential of our CVM-based aggregometer for low-cost point-of-care diagnostics without compromising the measurement sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bumseok Namgung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore.
| | - Taewoo Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore.
| | - Justin Kok Soon Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore. and Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Daren Kiat How Poh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore.
| | - Soyeon Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore. and Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Kevin Ziyang Chng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore. and Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore
| | - Rupesh Agrawal
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Healthcare Group Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 308433, Singapore
| | - Sung-Yong Park
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Hwa Liang Leo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore.
| | - Sangho Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117575, Singapore. and Institute for Health Innovation and Technology, National University of Singapore, 117599, Singapore and The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, 117456, Singapore
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12
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Investigating the Interaction Between Circulating Tumor Cells and Local Hydrodynamics via Experiment and Simulations. Cell Mol Bioeng 2020; 13:527-540. [PMID: 33184581 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-020-00656-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The biological and mechanical properties of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in combination with the hemodynamics affect the preference of metastatic sites in the vasculature. Despite the extensive literature on the effects of biological properties on cell adhesion, the effects of hydrodynamic forces on primary attachment remains an active area of research. Using simulations in conjunction with experimentation, we provide new insight into the interplay of CTCs dynamics and local hydrodynamics. Methods A flow experiment of CTC attachment was performed within a bioprinted, double branching endothelialized vessel. Simulations of fluid flow and CTC transport in the reconstructed and idealized bifurcated vessel were respectively performed by HARVEY, our in-house massively parallel computational fluid dynamics solver. HARVEY is based on the lattice Boltzmann and finite element methods to model the fluid and cells dynamics. The immersed boundary method is employed for resolving the fluid-structure interaction. Results CTC attachment was quantified experimentally at all regions of the complex vessel. The results demonstrate a clear preference for CTCs to attach at the branch points. To elucidate the effect of the vessel topology on the location of attachment, a fluid-only simulation was performed assessing the differences in the hydrodynamics along the vessel. CTC transport in idealized bifurcated vessels was subsequently studied to examine the effects of cell deformability on the local hydrodynamics patterns and, thus, the preference of attachment sites. Conclusions The current work provides evidence on the correlation of the hydrodynamics forces arising from the vessel topology and CTC properties on the attachment regions.
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13
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Kang YJ. Microfluidic-Based Biosensor for Blood Viscosity and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Using Disposable Fluid Delivery System. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11020215. [PMID: 32093288 PMCID: PMC7074636 DOI: 10.3390/mi11020215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To quantify the variation of red blood cells (RBCs) or plasma proteins in blood samples effectively, it is necessary to measure blood viscosity and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) simultaneously. Conventional microfluidic measurement methods require two syringe pumps to control flow rates of both fluids. In this study, instead of two syringe pumps, two air-compressed syringes (ACSs) are newly adopted for delivering blood samples and reference fluid into a T-shaped microfluidic channel. Under fluid delivery with two ACS, the flow rate of each fluid is not specified over time. To obtain velocity fields of reference fluid consistently, RBCs suspended in 40% glycerin solution (hematocrit = 7%) as the reference fluid is newly selected for avoiding RBCs sedimentation in ACS. A calibration curve is obtained by evaluating the relationship between averaged velocity obtained with micro-particle image velocimetry (μPIV) and flow rate of a syringe pump with respect to blood samples and reference fluid. By installing the ACSs horizontally, ESR is obtained by monitoring the image intensity of the blood sample. The averaged velocities of the blood sample and reference fluid (<UB>, <UR>) and the interfacial location in both fluids (αB) are obtained with μPIV and digital image processing, respectively. Blood viscosity is then measured by using a parallel co-flowing method with a correction factor. The ESR is quantified as two indices (tESR, IESR) from image intensity of blood sample (<IB>) over time. As a demonstration, the proposed method is employed to quantify contributions of hematocrit (Hct = 30%, 40%, and 50%), base solution (1× phosphate-buffered saline [PBS], plasma, and dextran solution), and hardened RBCs to blood viscosity and ESR, respectively. Experimental Results of the present method were comparable with those of the previous method. In conclusion, the proposed method has the ability to measure blood viscosity and ESR consistently, under fluid delivery of two ACSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Jun Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chosun University, 309 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea
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14
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Mantegazza A, Clavica F, Obrist D. In vitro investigations of red blood cell phase separation in a complex microchannel network. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020; 14:014101. [PMID: 31933711 PMCID: PMC6941945 DOI: 10.1063/1.5127840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Microvascular networks feature a complex topology with multiple bifurcating vessels. Nonuniform partitioning (phase separation) of red blood cells (RBCs) occurs at diverging bifurcations, leading to a heterogeneous RBC distribution that ultimately affects the oxygen delivery to living tissues. Our understanding of the mechanisms governing RBC heterogeneity is still limited, especially in large networks where the RBC dynamics can be nonintuitive. In this study, our quantitative data for phase separation were obtained in a complex in vitro network with symmetric bifurcations and 176 microchannels. Our experiments showed that the hematocrit is heterogeneously distributed and confirmed the classical result that the branch with a higher blood fraction received an even higher RBC fraction (classical partitioning). An inversion of this classical phase separation (reverse partitioning) was observed in the case of a skewed hematocrit profile in the parent vessels of bifurcations. In agreement with a recent computational study [P. Balogh and P. Bagchi, Phys. Fluids 30,051902 (2018)], a correlation between the RBC reverse partitioning and the skewness of the hematocrit profile due to sequential converging and diverging bifurcations was reported. A flow threshold below which no RBCs enter a branch was identified. These results highlight the importance of considering the RBC flow history and the local RBC distribution to correctly describe the RBC phase separation in complex networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mantegazza
- ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - D Obrist
- ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
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15
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Study of the Partitioning of Red Blood Cells Through Asymmetric Bifurcating Microchannels. J Med Biol Eng 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40846-019-00492-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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16
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Microfluidic-Based Biosensor for Sequential Measurement of Blood Pressure and RBC Aggregation Over Continuously Varying Blood Flows. MICROMACHINES 2019; 10:mi10090577. [PMID: 31480325 PMCID: PMC6780160 DOI: 10.3390/mi10090577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Aggregation of red blood cells (RBCs) varies substantially depending on changes of several factors such as hematocrit, membrane deformability, and plasma proteins. Among these factors, hematocrit has a strong influence on the aggregation of RBCs. Thus, while measuring RBCs aggregation, it is necessary to monitor hematocrit or, additionally, the effect of hematocrit (i.e., blood viscosity or pressure). In this study, the sequential measurement method of pressure and RBC aggregation is proposed by quantifying blood flow (i.e., velocity and image intensity) through a microfluidic device, in which an air-compressed syringe (ACS) is used to control the sample injection. The microfluidic device used is composed of two channels (pressure channel (PC), and blood channel (BC)), an inlet, and an outlet. A single ACS (i.e., air suction = 0.4 mL, blood suction = 0.4 mL, and air compression = 0.3 mL) is employed to supply blood into the microfluidic channel. At an initial time (t < 10 s), the pressure index (PI) is evaluated by analyzing the intensity of microscopy images of blood samples collected inside PC. During blood delivery with ACS, shear rates of blood flows vary continuously over time. After a certain amount of time has elapsed (t > 30 s), two RBC aggregation indices (i.e., SEAI: without information on shear rate, and erythrocyte aggregation index (EAI): with information on shear rate) are quantified by analyzing the image intensity and velocity field of blood flow in BC. According to experimental results, PI depends significantly on the characteristics of the blood samples (i.e., hematocrit or base solutions) and can be used effectively as an alternative to blood viscosity. In addition, SEAI and EAI also depend significantly on the degree of RBC aggregation. In conclusion, on the basis of three indices (two RBC aggregation indices and pressure index), the proposed method is capable of measuring RBCs aggregation consistently using a microfluidic device.
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17
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Hymel SJ, Lan H, Fujioka H, Khismatullin DB. Cell trapping in Y-junction microchannels: A numerical study of the bifurcation angle effect in inertial microfluidics. PHYSICS OF FLUIDS (WOODBURY, N.Y. : 1994) 2019; 31:082003. [PMID: 31406457 PMCID: PMC6688893 DOI: 10.1063/1.5113516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The majority of microfluidic technologies for cell sorting and isolation involve bifurcating (e.g., Y- or T-shaped junction) microchannels to trap the cells of a specific type. However, the microfluidic trapping efficiency remains low, independently of whether the cells are separated by a passive or an active sorting method. Using a custom computational algorithm, we studied the migration of separated deformable cells in a Y-junction microchannel, with a bifurcation angle ranging from 30° to 180°. Single or two cells of initially spherical shape were considered under flow conditions corresponding to inertial microfluidics. Through the numerical simulation, we identified the effects of cell size, cytoplasmic viscoelasticity, cortical tension, flow rate, and bifurcation angle on the critical separation distance for cell trapping. The results of this study show that the trapping and isolation of blood cells, and circulating tumor cells in a Y-junction microchannel was most efficient and least dependent on the flow rate at the bifurcation angle of 120°. At this angle, the trapping efficiency for white blood cells and circulating tumor cells increased, respectively, by 46% and 43%, in comparison with the trapping efficiency at 60°. The efficiency to isolate invasive tumor cells from noninvasive ones increased by 32%. This numerical study provides important design criteria to optimize microfluidic technology for deformability-based cell sorting and isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hongzhi Lan
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Hideki Fujioka
- Center for Computational Science, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, USA
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18
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Xiao LL, Lin CS, Chen S, Liu Y, Fu BM, Yan WW. Effects of red blood cell aggregation on the blood flow in a symmetrical stenosed microvessel. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2019; 19:159-171. [PMID: 31297646 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-019-01202-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In order to figure out whether red blood cell (RBC) aggregation is beneficial or deleterious for the blood flow through a stenosis, fluid mechanics of a microvascular stenosis was examined through simulating the dynamics of deformable red blood cells suspended in plasma using dissipative particle dynamics. The spatial variation in time-averaged cell-free layer (CFL) thickness and velocity profiles indicated that the blood flow exhibits asymmetry along the flow direction. The RBC accumulation occurs upstream the stenosis, leading to a thinner CFL and reduced flow velocity. Therefore, the emergence of stenosis produces an increased blood flow resistance. In addition, an enhanced Fahraeus-Lindqvist effect was observed in the presence of the stenosis. Finally, the effect of RBC aggregation combined with decreased stenosis on the blood flow was investigated. The findings showed that when the RBC clusters pass through the stenosis with a throat comparable to the RBC core in diameter, the blood flow resistance decreases with increasing intercellular interaction strength. But if the RBC core is larger and even several times than the throat, the blood flow resistance increases largely under strong RBC aggregation, which may contribute to the mechanism of the microthrombus formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- L L Xiao
- School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, China.
| | - C S Lin
- School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - S Chen
- School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Y Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - B M Fu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - W W Yan
- College of Metrology and Measurement Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, China
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19
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Ye T, Peng L, Li G. Red blood cell distribution in a microvascular network with successive bifurcations. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2019; 18:1821-1835. [PMID: 31161352 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-019-01179-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nonproportional RBC distribution is an important characteristic in microvascular networks, which can result in heterogeneity of oxygen supply that may cause ischemic death in severe cases. In this paper, we perform three-dimensional numerical simulations of a large number of RBCs in a microvascular network, by using a hybrid method of smoothed dissipative particle dynamic and immersed boundary method. The distribution of multiple RBCs in a T-bifurcation is first simulated as a validation study, and a reasonable agreement is observed both qualitatively and quantitatively on the RBC flux between our results and the previously published numerical and empirical results. Next, the distribution of a large number of RBCs in a microvascular network is investigated, including the effects of cell deformability, aggregation and tube hematocrit. The simulation results indicate that decreased deformability and increased aggregation strength have a similar effect on the RBC distribution: the large RBC flux becomes larger, but the small becomes smaller. A high hematocrit also causes a similar phenomenon that the RBCs are more apt to flow into a high RBC-flux branch, because they are arranged compactly into a rouleaux and difficultly broken up at a high hematocrit. These results imply that lower cell deformability, stronger aggregation or higher tube hematocrit would be conducive to the phase separation of hematocrit and plasma skimming processes in microcirculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Ye
- Department of Computational Mathematics, School of Mathematics, Jilin University, Qianjin Ave. #2699, Changchun, 130012, China.
| | - Lina Peng
- Department of Computational Mathematics, School of Mathematics, Jilin University, Qianjin Ave. #2699, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Guansheng Li
- Department of Computational Mathematics, School of Mathematics, Jilin University, Qianjin Ave. #2699, Changchun, 130012, China
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20
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Kang YJ, Lee SJ. In vitro and ex vivo measurement of the biophysical properties of blood using microfluidic platforms and animal models. Analyst 2019; 143:2723-2749. [PMID: 29740642 DOI: 10.1039/c8an00231b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Haemorheologically impaired microcirculation, such as blood clotting or abnormal blood flow, causes interrupted blood flows in vascular networks. The biophysical properties of blood, including blood viscosity, blood viscoelasticity, haematocrit, red blood bell (RBC) aggregation, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and RBC deformability, have been used to monitor haematological diseases. In this review, we summarise several techniques for measuring haemorheological properties, such as blood viscosity, RBC deformability and RBC aggregation, using in vitro microfluidic platforms. Several methodologies for the measurement of haemorheological properties with the assistance of an extracorporeal rat bypass loop are also presented. We briefly discuss several emerging technologies for continuous, long-term, multiple measurements of haemorheological properties under in vitro or ex vivo conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Jun Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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21
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Quantitative Measurement and Evaluation of Red Blood Cell Aggregation in Normal Blood Based on a Modified Hanai Equation. SENSORS 2019; 19:s19051095. [PMID: 30836669 PMCID: PMC6427202 DOI: 10.3390/s19051095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The aggregation of red blood cells (RBCs) in normal blood (non-coagulation) has been quantitatively measured by blood pulsatile flow based on multiple-frequency electrical impedance spectroscopy. The relaxation frequencies fc under static and flowing conditions of blood pulsatile flow are utilized to evaluate the RBC aggregation quantitatively with the consideration of blood flow factors (RBC orientation, deformation, thickness of electrical double layer (EDL)). Both porcine blood and bovine blood are investigated in experiments, for the reason that porcine blood easily forms RBC aggregates, while bovine blood does not. The results show that the relaxation frequencies fc of porcine blood and bovine blood present opposite performance, which indicates that the proposed relaxation frequency fc is efficient to measure RBCs aggregation. Furthermore, the modified Hanai equation is proposed to quantitatively calculate the influence of RBCs aggregation on relaxation frequency fc. The study confirms the feasibility of a high speed, on-line RBC aggregation sensing method in extracorporeal circulation systems.
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22
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Losserand S, Coupier G, Podgorski T. Migration velocity of red blood cells in microchannels. Microvasc Res 2019; 124:30-36. [PMID: 30831125 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The lateral migration of red blood cells (RBCs) in confined channel flows is an important ingredient of microcirculatory hydrodynamics and is involved in the development of a cell free layer near vessel walls and influences the distribution of RBCs in networks. It is also relevant to a number of lab-on-chip applications. This migration is a consequence of their deformability and is due to the combined effects of hydrodynamic wall repulsion and the curvature of the fluid velocity profile. We performed microfluidic experiments with dilute suspensions of RBCs in which the trajectories and migration away from the channel wall are analyzed to extract the mean behavior, from which we propose a generic scaling law for the transverse migration velocity valid in a whole range of parameters relevant to microcirculatory and practical situations. Experiments with RBCs of different mechanical properties (separated by density gradient sedimentation or fixed with glutaraldehyde) show the influence of this parameter which can induce significant dispersion of the trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gwennou Coupier
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, Grenoble F-38000, France
| | - Thomas Podgorski
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, Grenoble F-38000, France
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23
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Kang YJ. Simultaneous measurement of blood pressure and RBC aggregation by monitoring on–off blood flows supplied from a disposable air-compressed pump. Analyst 2019; 144:3556-3566. [DOI: 10.1039/c9an00025a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
A simple method for simultaneously measuring RBC aggregation and blood pressure is demonstrated by analyzing blood flows supplied from a disposable air-compressed pump.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Jun Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Chosun University
- Gwangju
- Republic of Korea
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24
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Kang YJ. A Disposable Blood-on-a-Chip for Simultaneous Measurement of Multiple Biophysical Properties. MICROMACHINES 2018; 9:E475. [PMID: 30424408 PMCID: PMC6215101 DOI: 10.3390/mi9100475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Revised: 09/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Biophysical properties are widely used to detect pathophysiological processes of vascular diseases or clinical states. For early detection of cardiovascular diseases, it is necessary to simultaneously measure multiple biophysical properties in a microfluidic environment. However, a microfluidic-based technique for measuring multiple biophysical properties has not been demonstrated. In this study, a simple measurement method was suggested to quantify three biophysical properties of blood, including red blood cell (RBC) deformability, RBC aggregation, and hematocrit. To demonstrate the suggested method, a microfluidic device was constructed, being composed of a big-sized channel (BC), a parallel micropillar (MP), a main channel, a branch channel, inlet, and outlets. By operating a single syringe pump, blood was supplied into the inlet of the microfluidic device, at a periodic on-off profile (i.e., period = 240 s). The RBC deformability index (DI) was obtained by analyzing the averaged blood velocity in the branch channel. Additionally, the RBC aggregation index (AIN) and the hematocrit index (HiBC) were measured by analyzing the image intensity of blood flows in the MP and the BC, respectively. The corresponding contributions of three influencing factors, including the turn-on time (Ton), the amplitude of blood flow rate (Q₀), and the hematocrit (Hct) on the biophysical indices (DI, AIN, and HiBC) were evaluated quantitatively. As the three biophysical indices varied significantly with respect to the three factors, the following conditions (i.e., Ton = 210 s, Q₀ = 1 mL/h, and Hct = 50%) were maintained for consistent measurement of biophysical properties. The proposed method was employed to detect variations of biophysical properties depending on the concentrations of autologous plasma, homogeneous hardened RBCs, and heterogeneous hardened RBCs. Based on the observations, the proposed method exhibited significant differences in biophysical properties depending on base solutions, homogeneous hardened RBCs (i.e., all RBCs fixed with the same concentration of glutaraldehyde solution), and heterogeneous hardened RBCs (i.e., partially mixed with normal RBCs and homogeneous hardened RBCs). Additionally, the suggested indices (i.e., DI, AIN, and HiBC) were effectively employed to quantify three biophysical properties, including RBC deformability, RBC aggregation, and hematocrit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Jun Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chosun University, 309 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea.
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25
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Kang YJ. Microfluidic-Based Technique for Measuring RBC Aggregation and Blood Viscosity in a Continuous and Simultaneous Fashion. MICROMACHINES 2018; 9:E467. [PMID: 30424400 PMCID: PMC6187833 DOI: 10.3390/mi9090467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Hemorheological properties such as viscosity, deformability, and aggregation have been employed to monitor or screen patients with cardiovascular diseases. To effectively evaluate blood circulating within an in vitro closed circuit, it is important to quantify its hemorheological properties consistently and accurately. A simple method for measuring red blood cell (RBC) aggregation and blood viscosity is proposed for analyzing blood flow in a microfluidic device, especially in a continuous and simultaneous fashion. To measure RBC aggregation, blood flows through three channels: the left wide channel, the narrow channel and the right wide channel sequentially. After quantifying the image intensity of RBCs aggregated in the left channel () and the RBCs disaggregated in the right channel (), the RBC aggregation index (AIPM) is obtained by dividing by . Simultaneously, based on a modified parallel flow method, blood viscosity is obtained by detecting the interface between two fluids in the right wide channel. RBC aggregation and blood viscosity were first evaluated under constant and pulsatile blood flows. AIPM varies significantly with respect to blood flow rate (for both its amplitude and period) and the concentration of the dextran solution used. According to our quantitative comparison between the proposed aggregation index (AIPM) and the conventional aggregation index (AICM), it is found that AIPM provides consistent results. Finally, the suggested method is employed to obtain the RBC aggregation and blood viscosity of blood circulating within an in vitro fluidic circuit. The experimental results lead to the conclusion that the proposed method can be successfully used to measure RBC aggregation and blood viscosity, especially in a continuous and simultaneous fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Jun Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chosun University, 309 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea.
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26
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Kang YJ, Kim BJ. Multiple and Periodic Measurement of RBC Aggregation and ESR in Parallel Microfluidic Channels under On-Off Blood Flow Control. MICROMACHINES 2018; 9:mi9070318. [PMID: 30424251 PMCID: PMC6082273 DOI: 10.3390/mi9070318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation causes to alter hemodynamic behaviors at low flow-rate regions of post-capillary venules. Additionally, it is significantly elevated in inflammatory or pathophysiological conditions. In this study, multiple and periodic measurements of RBC aggregation and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are suggested by sucking blood from a pipette tip into parallel microfluidic channels, and quantifying image intensity, especially through single experiment. Here, a microfluidic device was prepared from a master mold using the xurography technique rather than micro-electro-mechanical-system fabrication techniques. In order to consider variations of RBC aggregation in microfluidic channels due to continuous ESR in the conical pipette tip, two indices (aggregation index (AI) and erythrocyte-sedimentation-rate aggregation index (EAI)) are evaluated by using temporal variations of microscopic, image-based intensity. The proposed method is employed to evaluate the effect of hematocrit and dextran solution on RBC aggregation under continuous ESR in the conical pipette tip. As a result, EAI displays a significantly linear relationship with modified conventional ESR measurement obtained by quantifying time constants. In addition, EAI varies linearly within a specific concentration of dextran solution. In conclusion, the proposed method is able to measure RBC aggregation under continuous ESR in the conical pipette tip. Furthermore, the method provides multiple data of RBC aggregation and ESR through a single experiment. A future study will involve employing the proposed method to evaluate biophysical properties of blood samples collected from cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Jun Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chosun University, 309 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea.
| | - Byung Jun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Korea.
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Chen Q, Passos A, Balabani S, Chivu A, Zhao S, Azevedo HS, Butler P, Song W. Semi-interpenetrating network hyaluronic acid microgel delivery systems in micro-flow. J Colloid Interface Sci 2018; 519:174-185. [PMID: 29494879 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.02.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Macroscopic hydrogels are commonly used as injectable scaffolds or fillers, however they may easily obstruct blood vessels, which poses risks and limits their clinical use. In the present study, three types of hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogel micro-particles with non-covalent, covalent semi-interpenetrating and conventional 3D molecular networks, have been designed, fabricated and characterized. The micro-particles are spherical, biconcave or irregular in shape and their diameter ranged between 2.5 and 3.5 µm; their suspensions exhibit a tuneable viscosity, shear-thinning behaviour, dynamic stability and dispersity in microfluidic flow as a result of their specific particulate nature, providing thus a well-controlled injectable platform. Hydrogel particle suspensions also demonstrate an enhanced safety profile, in terms of the dispersity, cell safety, and hemocompatibility. In addition, Rhodamine 6G has successfully been loaded and released from the particles as a model for drug delivery. Functionalisation of hydrogel microparticles using synthetic polymers has been proven to be a cost-effective way to achieve desirable rheological properties and flow dynamic stability with improved physicochemical properties and biocompatibility in vitro, showing promise as a multifunctional biomedical material for various advanced surgical devices and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqing Chen
- Plastic Surgery Department, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Passos
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London NW1 2PS, United Kingdom
| | - Stavroula Balabani
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London NW1 2PS, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandru Chivu
- UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Shudong Zhao
- UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Helena S Azevedo
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
| | - Peter Butler
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom
| | - Wenhui Song
- UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Medicine, Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom.
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Kaliviotis E, Pasias D, Sherwood J, Balabani S. Red blood cell aggregate flux in a bifurcating microchannel. Med Eng Phys 2017; 48:23-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2017.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Microfluidic-Based Measurement Method of Red Blood Cell Aggregation under Hematocrit Variations. SENSORS 2017; 17:s17092037. [PMID: 28878199 PMCID: PMC5620946 DOI: 10.3390/s17092037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are considered to be promising biomarkers for effectively monitoring blood rheology at extremely low shear rates. In this study, a microfluidic-based measurement technique is suggested to evaluate RBC aggregation under hematocrit variations due to the continuous ESR. After the pipette tip is tightly fitted into an inlet port, a disposable suction pump is connected to the outlet port through a polyethylene tube. After dropping blood (approximately 0.2 mL) into the pipette tip, the blood flow can be started and stopped by periodically operating a pinch valve. To evaluate variations in RBC aggregation due to the continuous ESR, an EAI (Erythrocyte-sedimentation-rate Aggregation Index) is newly suggested, which uses temporal variations of image intensity. To demonstrate the proposed method, the dynamic characterization of the disposable suction pump is first quantitatively measured by varying the hematocrit levels and cavity volume of the suction pump. Next, variations in RBC aggregation and ESR are quantified by varying the hematocrit levels. The conventional aggregation index (AI) is maintained constant, unrelated to the hematocrit values. However, the EAI significantly decreased with respect to the hematocrit values. Thus, the EAI is more effective than the AI for monitoring variations in RBC aggregation due to the ESR. Lastly, the proposed method is employed to detect aggregated blood and thermally-induced blood. The EAI gradually increased as the concentration of a dextran solution increased. In addition, the EAI significantly decreased for thermally-induced blood. From this experimental demonstration, the proposed method is able to effectively measure variations in RBC aggregation due to continuous hematocrit variations, especially by quantifying the EAI.
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