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Updated: May 28, 2026
Controlled Microfluidic Environment for Dynamic Investigation of Red Blood Cell Aggregation
Published on: June 4, 2015
Artificial microvascular network: a new tool for measuring rheologic properties of stored red blood cells
Jennie M Burns1, Xiaoxi Yang, Omid Forouzan
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
Background:
The progressive deterioration of red blood cell (RBC) rheologic properties during refrigerated storage may reduce the clinical efficacy of transfusion of older units.
Study Design And Methods:
This article describes the development of a microfluidic device designed to test the rheologic properties of stored RBCs by measuring their ability to perfuse an artificial microvascular network (AMVN) comprised of capillary-size microchannels arranged in a pattern inspired by the real microvasculature. In the AMVN device, the properties of RBCs are evaluated by passing a 40% hematocrit suspension of RBCs through the network and measuring the overall perfusion rate.
Results:
The sensitivity of the AMVN device to the storage-induced change in rheologic properties of RBCs was tested using five prestorage leukoreduced RBC units stored in AS-1 for 41 days. The AMVN perfusion rate for stored RBCs was 26 ± 4% (19%-30%) lower than for fresh RBCs. Washing these stored RBCs in saline improved their performance by 41 ± 6% (the AMVN perfusion rate for washed stored RBCs was still 15 ± 2% lower than for fresh RBCs).
Conclusions:
The measurements performed using the AMVN device confirm a significant decline in the rheologic properties of RBCs in units nearing expiration and demonstrate the sensitivity of the device to these storage-induced changes. The AMVN device may be useful for testing the effect of new storage conditions, additive solutions, and rejuvenation strategies on the rheologic properties of stored RBCs in vitro.
