Related Experiment Videos
A precision method to measure average viscoelastic parameters of erythrocyte populations
H S Kage1, H Engelhardt, E Sackman
1Physik-Department E 22, Technische Universität München, Garching, Federal Republic of Germany.
Abstract:
Suspensions of erythrocytes in media of low conductivity are subjected to homogenous high frequency electric fields (1 MHz, approximately 10 to 40 kV/m). The resulting transient deformation of the cells is measured by laser light diffraction. Employing a viscoelastic model of the erythrocyte membrane, relative values of membrane shear modulus and response time can currently be determined to within 7% or better. With a measurement time of one minute the average values of some 10(5) cells can be obtained. As a test of the method, osmotic swelling and deflation of the cells and crosslinking their membrane skeleton by diamide are used to alter the viscoelastic properties of the erythrocytes.