Dynamics of red blood cells in microporous membranes

Czerwinska, Justyna; Rieger, Michael; Uehlinger, Dominik (2014). Dynamics of red blood cells in microporous membranes. Biomicrofluidics, 8(4), 044101. American Institute of Physics 10.1063/1.4886967

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We have performed microfluidic experiments with erythrocytes passing through a network of microchannels of 20–25 μm width and 5 μm of height. Red blood cells (RBCs) were flowing in countercurrent directions through microchannels connected by μm pores. Thereby, we have observed interesting flow dynamics. All pores were blocked by erythrocytes. Some erythrocytes have passed through pores, depending on the channel size and cell elasticity. Many RBCs split into two or more smaller parts. Two types of splits were observed. In one type, the lipid bilayer and spectrin network were cut at the same time. In the second type, the lipid bilayer reconnected, but the part of spectrin network stayed outside the cell forming a rope like structure, which could eventually break. The microporous membrane results in multiple breakups of the cells, which can have various clinical implications, e.g., glomerulus hematuria and anemia of patients undergoing dialysis. The cell breakup procedure is similar to the one observed in the droplet breakage of viscoelastic liquids in confinement.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Dermatology, Urology, Rheumatology, Nephrology, Osteoporosis (DURN) > Clinic of Nephrology and Hypertension
10 Strategic Research Centers > ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research > ARTORG Center - Artificial Kidney Research

UniBE Contributor:

Czerwinska, Justyna, Rieger, Michael, Uehlinger, Dominik

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
600 Technology > 620 Engineering

ISSN:

1932-1058

Publisher:

American Institute of Physics

Language:

English

Submitter:

Justyna Czerwinska

Date Deposited:

13 Oct 2014 11:10

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:36

Publisher DOI:

10.1063/1.4886967

PubMed ID:

25379086

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.54675

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/54675

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