Desiccation Patterns of Plasma Sessile Drops

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Diagnostics

Background:

• Plasma desiccation patterns are being explored for low-cost health diagnostics.
• Understanding pattern formation mechanisms is crucial for diagnostic applications.
• Disease-induced plasma composition changes influence these patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the formation mechanisms of plasma desiccation patterns.
• To explore the influence of sodium chloride concentration on pattern morphology.
• To bridge the understanding gap for improved diagnostic potential.

Main Methods:

• Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of desiccated plasma patterns.
• Controlled experiments varying sodium chloride concentrations.
• Correlation analysis of crack propagation with internal stresses and gelation.

Main Results:

• Cracking patterns in healthy adult plasma correlate with local stresses governed by gelation.
• Crystal-like patterns form in the drop center due to heterogeneous distribution of proteins and sodium chloride.
• Increased sodium chloride concentration expands crystal-like pattern area and reduces crack formation.

Conclusions:

• Plasma desiccation patterns are influenced by physical mechanisms and chemical composition.
• Sodium chloride concentration is a key factor in crystal-like pattern formation.
• Further understanding of these patterns can enhance their utility in disease diagnostics.