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Measuring Deformability and Red Cell Heterogeneity in Blood by Ektacytometry
Published on: January 12, 2018
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Red blood cell adhesion can be reduced by non-reactive macromolecules
Zhengwen Zhang1, Herbert J Meiselman2, Björn Neu3
1Division of Bioengineering, School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces
|November 20, 2018
Summary
Small polymers can reduce red blood cell (RBC) adhesion, even when large polymers promote it. This suggests complex interactions in vivo are crucial for understanding cell adhesion and related diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Red blood cell (RBC) adhesion mechanisms are not fully understood, though polymer depletion is implicated.
- Previous studies often examined single polymers, overlooking in vivo complexity with macromolecule mixtures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how mixtures of polymers influence RBC adhesion.
- To explore the role of smaller polymers in modulating the effects of larger, adhesion-promoting polymers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Interference Reflection Microscopy to study RBC adhesion.
- Examined RBC adhesion to albumin-coated surfaces with dextran and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) mixtures.
Main Results:
- Small polymers (dextran 10 kDa, PEG 10 kDa, Poloxamer 188) inhibited adhesion promoted by large dextran 70 kDa and PEG 35 kDa.
- Inhibition was more significant with heterogeneous mixtures of polymers.
- Results align with the depletion model, suggesting increased small molecules in the depletion region.
Conclusions:
- Depletion interactions can regulate cell-cell interactions in complex biological environments.
- Understanding the interplay of all plasma constituents is vital for diseases involving cell adhesion and vascular complications.
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