Aggregation and disaggregation of red blood cells: Depletion versus bridging.

ABSTRACT: The aggregation of red blood cells (RBCs) is a complex phenomenon that strongly impacts blood flow and tissue perfusion. Despite extensive research for more than 50 years, physical mechanisms that govern RBC aggregation are still under debate. Two proposed mechanisms are based on bridging and depletion interactions between RBCs due to the presence of macromolecules in blood plasma. The bridging hypothesis assumes the formation of bonds between RBCs through adsorbing macromolecules, while the depletion mechanism results from the exclusion of macromolecules from the intercellular space, leading to effective attraction. Existing experimental studies generally cannot differentiate between these two aggregation mechanisms, although several recent investigations suggest concurrent involvement of

SUBMITTER: Moreno N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12044398 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature