Paper Number
BF20 

Session
Biomaterials and Bio-fluid Dynamics

Title
Microfluidic single-cell shape analysis as a biomarker for pathophysiological red blood cell capillary flow

Presentation Date and Time
October 11, 2022 (Tuesday) 4:25

Track / Room
Track 4 / Michigan AB

Authors (Click on name to view author profile)

  1. Recktenwald, Steffen M. (Saarland University, Department of Experimental Physics)
  2. Simionato, Greta (Saarland Campus University Hospital, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery)
  3. Lopes, Marcelle (Cysmic GmbH)
  4. Kaestner, Lars (Saarland Campus University Hospital, Theoretical Medicine and Biosciences)
  5. Quint, Stephan (Cysmic GmbH)
  6. Wagner, Christian (Saarland University, Department of Experimental Physics)

Author and Affiliation Lines (in printed abstract book)
Steffen M. Recktenwald1, Greta Simionato2, Marcelle Lopes3, Lars Kaestner4, Stephan Quint3 and Christian Wagner1
1Department of Experimental Physics, Saarland University, Saarbruecken 66123, Germany; 2Institute for Clinical and Experimental Surgery, Saarland Campus University Hospital, Homburg 66421, Germany; 3Cysmic GmbH, Saarbruecken 66123, Germany; 4Theoretical Medicine and Biosciences, Saarland Campus University Hospital, Homburg 66421, Germany

Speaker / Presenter 
Recktenwald, Steffen M.

Keywords
experimental methods; AI based; bio-fluids; biomaterials; microscopy

Text of Abstract
Red blood cells (RBCs) are characterized by high deformability, which plays a crucial role in ensuring proper blood circulation and enables RBCs to dynamically adapt their shape to the flow conditions and vessel dimensions. The RBC shape depends on both external flow conditions as well as on the intrinsic cell properties that affect their deformability, such as the cytosol viscosity and membrane viscoelasticity. However, various diseases, drugs, and medical treatments result in an impairment of RBC deformability and shape, thus leading to both macro and microvascular complications. In this study, we evaluate an in vitro method using the RBC shape as a biomarker to assess pathophysiological cell changes during capillary flow. Therefore, diluted RBC suspensions are pumped through a microfluidic device with channel dimensions similar to the RBC size. Single-cell flow is imaged using high-speed microscopy covering a broad velocity range that resembles physiological capillary flow. Microfluidic experiments are combined with neural network approaches, which enable a fast and unbiased determination of the RBC shape. Various healthy and pathological shapes are determined that result in distinct distributions of the RBC position across the channel width. We showcase how these measurements can be used to assess pathophysiological RBC changes for various diseases, including COVID-19, and biomedical applications, such as hemodiafiltration and blood cell storage. Our study aims to understand the influence of pathological changes on the RBC shape and flow behavior and demonstrates the potential of RBC shape transitions to act as a biomarker for hematological diagnostics, therapy monitoring, cellular quality control, and pharmacological safety tests.