Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
805553 | Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Letters | 2015 | 4 Pages |
Abstract
When a red blood cell (RBC) is driven by a pressure gradient through a microfluidic channel, its passage or blockage provides a measure of the rigidity of the cell. This has been developed as a means to separate RBCs according to their mechanical properties, which are known to change with pathological conditions such as malaria infection. In this study, we use numerical simulations to establish a quantitative connection between the minimum pressure needed to drive an RBC through a contracting microfluidic channel and the rigidity of the cell membrane. This provides the basis for designing such devices and interpreting the experimental data.
Related Topics
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Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Authors
Tenghu Wu, Quan Guo, Hongshen Ma, James J. Feng,