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Controlled Microfluidic Environment for Dynamic Investigation of Red Blood Cell Aggregation
Published on: June 4, 2015
A review of numerical methods for red blood cell flow simulation
Meongkeun Ju1, Swe Soe Ye, Bumseok Namgung
1a Department of Bioengineering , National University of Singapore , Singapore.
Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering
|April 16, 2013
Summary
This review details simulation techniques for modeling red blood cell (RBC) flow in plasma. It covers RBC deformation, aggregation models, and fluid-structure interaction for advanced blood flow simulations.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Hematology
Background:
- Accurate modeling of red blood cell (RBC) flow in plasma is crucial for understanding various physiological and pathological conditions.
- Existing models often simplify complex RBC behaviors, necessitating comprehensive reviews of simulation techniques.
- The interplay between RBC deformation, aggregation, and fluid dynamics presents significant computational challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of simulation techniques for modeling red blood cell (RBC) flow in blood plasma.
- To focus on key components of RBC-plasma models, excluding fluid modeling aspects.
- To identify current research directions and future aims in RBC flow modeling.
Main Methods:
- Review of shell-based and spring-based models for describing red blood cell deformation.
- Analysis of constitutive models for red blood cell aggregation, including bridging and depletion theories.
- Examination of fluid-structure interaction methods like the immersed boundary and boundary integral methods.
- Discussion of index field methods for updating multiphase fluid properties.
Main Results:
- Detailed examination of various computational approaches for simulating RBC behavior and interactions within plasma.
- Identification of established and emerging techniques for modeling RBC deformation and aggregation.
- Overview of methods for coupling RBC dynamics with plasma flow, including fluid-structure interaction strategies.
Conclusions:
- The review synthesizes current simulation methodologies for RBC-plasma flow, highlighting strengths and limitations.
- Future research should focus on refining RBC deformation and aggregation models and improving fluid-structure interaction techniques.
- Advancements in RBC flow modeling are essential for developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in hematology.
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