Red blood cell phase separation in symmetric and asymmetric microchannel networks: effect of capillary dilation and inflow velocity.

ABSTRACT: The non-uniform partitioning or phase separation of red blood cells (RBCs) at a diverging bifurcation of a microvascular network is responsible for RBC heterogeneity within the network. The mechanisms controlling RBC heterogeneity are not yet fully understood and there is a need to improve the basic understanding of the phase separation phenomenon. In this context, in vitro experiments can fill the gap between existing in vivo and in silico models as they provide better controllability than in vivo experiments without mathematical idealizations or simplifications inherent to in silico models. In this study, we fabricated simple models of symmetric/asymmetric microvascular networks; we provided quantitative data on the RBC velocity, line density and flux in the daughter branches. In general

SUBMITTER: Clavica F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5114676 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature