Measuring RBC deformability and its heterogeneity using a fast microfluidic device

Abstract

We report a high-throughput microfluidic device to determine the Young's modulus of single red blood cells (RBCs). Our device consists of a single channel opening into a funnel, with a semi-circular obstacle placed at the mouth of the funnel. As a RBC passes the obstacle, it deflects from its original path. Using populations of artificially-stiffened RBCs, we show that the stiffer RBCs deflect more compared to the healthy RBCs. We then generate a calibration curve that maps each RBC trajectory to its Young's modulus obtained using an atomic force microscope. Finally, we sort a mixed population of RBCs based on their deformability alone. Our device could potentially be further miniaturized to sort and obtain the elastic constants of nanoscale objects, such exosomes, whose shape change is difficult to monitor by optical microscopy.

Gravitational effect on the cell in bio-fluid suspension

“…This study examined gravity’s impact on cells suspended in the bio-fluid medium. While previous research has explored the cellular interactions at the mesoscopic level using simulation [31,33] and experimental approaches [41,42], the present study represents a novel investigation into the impact of gravitational conditions on cell morphology, distribution, and the corresponding forces. Previously, there have been some computational studies on the effects of microgravity on osteoclasts [43]; however, there are no computational studies involving cells such as RBC and WBC in micro- or hypergravity regimes.…”