Abstract
We present a fully three-dimensional computational model of red blood cells and their flow in a fluid. This model includes all components necessary to capture important physical and biological aspects of the cell flow. It comprises descriptions of elasticity of the cell membrane, cell-cell interactions, two-way cell-fluid interaction, and adhesion of cell to surfaces. Using this model, we analyze different processes involving flow of cells. We present the results of ongoing research concerning the development of model for cell adhesion, the analysis of microfluidic devices with periodic obstacle arrays, the optimization of microfluidic connectors and biological process of red blood cells formation from reticulocytes.
Highlights
Blood flow modeling is very useful in various applications
It may be highly abstract or very realistic. We describe one such model, which includes a homogeneous fluid - blood plasma - and moving objects immersed in it - red blood cells (RBCs)
In case of channels that include periodic obstacle arrays (POA), we focus on the capture rate of rare cells, should the surface of obstacles be coated with rare-cell antibodies
Summary
Blood flow modeling is very useful in various applications. It may be highly abstract (e.g. using electromechanical analogies to model arterial trees [1]) or very realistic (e.g. comparing simulations and experiments of passage of cells through a sensor that measures their deformability [2]). The model further includes adhesion, cell-cell interactions and two-way cell-fluid interaction We use this model to simulate processes inside microfluidic devices. The blood flows through the micro-channels and it is possible to sort the cells or capture specific rare cells from the total cell populations. This kind of separation or capture is useful in diagnostics and monitoring of various diseases (e.g. cancer, sicklecell anemia, malaria). The fluid is modeled using lattice - Boltzmann method [4] and the objects using immersed boundary method and spring network model of the membrane This boundary, i.e. object’s surface, is covered with triangular mesh. We have investigated proper mass distribution in the immersed boundary points and seeding of dense suspensions of cells, which are necessary for simulations with high hematocrit [8]
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