Hemodynamics in the microcirculation and in microfluidics.

Abstract

Hemodynamics in microcirculation is important for hemorheology and several types of circulatory disease. Although hemodynamics research has a long history, the field continues to expand due to recent advancements in numerical and experimental techniques at the micro-and nano-scales. In this paper, we review recent computational and experimental studies of blood flow in microcirculation and microfluidics. We first focus on the computational studies of red blood cell (RBC) dynamics, from the single cellular level to mesoscopic multiple cellular flows, followed by a review of recent computational adhesion models for white blood cells, platelets, and malaria-infected RBCs, in which the cell adhesion to the vascular wall is essential for cellular function. Recent developments in optical microscopy have enabled the observation of flowing blood cells in microfluidics. Experimental particle image velocimetry and particle tracking velocimetry techniques are described in this article. Advancements in micro total analysis system technologies have facilitated flowing cell separation with microfluidic devices, which can be used for biomedical applications, such as a diagnostic tool for breast cancer or large intestinal tumors. In this paper, cell-separation techniques are reviewed for microfluidic devices, emphasizing recent advances and the potential of this fast-evolving research field in the near future.