Direct observation of von Willebrand factor elongation and fiber formation on collagen during acute whole blood exposure to pathological flow.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

In severe stenosis, von Willebrand factor (vWF) experiences millisecond exposures to pathological wall shear rates (γ(w)). We sought to evaluate the deposition of vWF onto collagen surfaces under flow in these environments.

Methods and results

Distinct from viscometry experiments that last many seconds, we deployed microfluidic devices for single-pass perfusion of whole blood or platelet-free plasma over fibrillar type 1 collagen (<50 ms transit time) at pathological γ(w) or spatial wall shear rate gradients (grad γ(w)). Using fluorescent anti-vWF, long thick vWF fibers (>20 μm) bound to collagen were visualized at constant γ(w)>30000 s(-1) during perfusion of platelet-free plasma, a process enhanced by EDTA. Rapid acceleration or deceleration of EDTA platelet-free

SUBMITTER: Colace TV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3595169 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature