Red Blood Cell Partitioning Using a Microfluidic Channel with Ladder Structure
This study investigated the partitioning characteristics of red blood cells (RBCs) within capillaries, with a specific focus on ladder structures observed near the end of the capillaries. In vitro experiments were conducted using microfluidic channels with a ladder structure model comprising six bif...
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/14/7/1421 |
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| author | Toru Hyakutake Yuya Tsutsumi Yohei Miyoshi Manabu Yasui Tomoki Mizuno Mizuki Tateno |
| author_facet | Toru Hyakutake Yuya Tsutsumi Yohei Miyoshi Manabu Yasui Tomoki Mizuno Mizuki Tateno |
| author_sort | Toru Hyakutake |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigated the partitioning characteristics of red blood cells (RBCs) within capillaries, with a specific focus on ladder structures observed near the end of the capillaries. In vitro experiments were conducted using microfluidic channels with a ladder structure model comprising six bifurcating channels that exhibited an anti-parallel flow configuration. The effects of various factors, such as the parent channel width, distance between branches, and hematocrit, on RBC partitioning in bifurcating channels were evaluated. A decrease in the parent channel width resulted in an increase in the heterogeneity in the hematocrit distribution and a bias in the fractional RBC flux. Additionally, variations in the distance between branches affected the RBC distribution, with smaller distances resulting in greater heterogeneity. The bias of the RBC distribution in the microchannel cross section had a major effect on the RBC partitioning characteristics. The influence of hematocrit variations on the RBC distribution was also investigated, with lower hematocrit values leading to a more pronounced bias in the RBC distribution. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into RBC distribution characteristics in capillary networks, contributing to our understanding of the physiological mechanisms of RBC phase separation in the microcirculatory system. These findings have implications for predicting oxygen heterogeneity in tissues and could aid in the study of diseases associated with impaired microcirculation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:48:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11a844bc33b24abbb7003d08fe2f46a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:48:31Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-11a844bc33b24abbb7003d08fe2f46a02023-11-18T20:33:12ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2023-07-01147142110.3390/mi14071421Red Blood Cell Partitioning Using a Microfluidic Channel with Ladder StructureToru Hyakutake0Yuya Tsutsumi1Yohei Miyoshi2Manabu Yasui3Tomoki Mizuno4Mizuki Tateno5Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, JapanGraduate School of Engineering Science, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, JapanGraduate School of Engineering Science, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, JapanKanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 705-1 Shimoimaizumi, Ebina 243-0435, JapanGraduate School of Engineering Science, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, JapanCollege of Engineering Science, Yokohama National University, 79-5 Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, JapanThis study investigated the partitioning characteristics of red blood cells (RBCs) within capillaries, with a specific focus on ladder structures observed near the end of the capillaries. In vitro experiments were conducted using microfluidic channels with a ladder structure model comprising six bifurcating channels that exhibited an anti-parallel flow configuration. The effects of various factors, such as the parent channel width, distance between branches, and hematocrit, on RBC partitioning in bifurcating channels were evaluated. A decrease in the parent channel width resulted in an increase in the heterogeneity in the hematocrit distribution and a bias in the fractional RBC flux. Additionally, variations in the distance between branches affected the RBC distribution, with smaller distances resulting in greater heterogeneity. The bias of the RBC distribution in the microchannel cross section had a major effect on the RBC partitioning characteristics. The influence of hematocrit variations on the RBC distribution was also investigated, with lower hematocrit values leading to a more pronounced bias in the RBC distribution. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into RBC distribution characteristics in capillary networks, contributing to our understanding of the physiological mechanisms of RBC phase separation in the microcirculatory system. These findings have implications for predicting oxygen heterogeneity in tissues and could aid in the study of diseases associated with impaired microcirculation.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/14/7/1421red blood cellpartitioningmicrofluidic channelcapillary network |
| spellingShingle | Toru Hyakutake Yuya Tsutsumi Yohei Miyoshi Manabu Yasui Tomoki Mizuno Mizuki Tateno Red Blood Cell Partitioning Using a Microfluidic Channel with Ladder Structure Micromachines red blood cell partitioning microfluidic channel capillary network |
| title | Red Blood Cell Partitioning Using a Microfluidic Channel with Ladder Structure |
| title_full | Red Blood Cell Partitioning Using a Microfluidic Channel with Ladder Structure |
| title_fullStr | Red Blood Cell Partitioning Using a Microfluidic Channel with Ladder Structure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Red Blood Cell Partitioning Using a Microfluidic Channel with Ladder Structure |
| title_short | Red Blood Cell Partitioning Using a Microfluidic Channel with Ladder Structure |
| title_sort | red blood cell partitioning using a microfluidic channel with ladder structure |
| topic | red blood cell partitioning microfluidic channel capillary network |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/14/7/1421 |
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