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Barbosa F, Dueñas-Pamplona J, Abreu CS, Oliveira MSN, Lima RA. Numerical Model Validation of the Blood Flow through a Microchannel Hyperbolic Contraction. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1886. [PMID: 37893323 PMCID: PMC10608998 DOI: 10.3390/mi14101886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of blood flow through hyperbolic contraction with a discrete phase model (DPM) was experimentally validated. For this purpose, the positions and velocities of red blood cells (RBCs) flowing in a microchannel with hyperbolic contraction were experimentally assessed using image analysis techniques, and were subsequently compared with the numerical results. The numerically and experimentally obtained velocity fields were in good agreement, with errors smaller than 10%. Additionally, a nearly constant strain rate was observed in the contraction region, which can be attributed to the quasilinear increase in the velocity along the hyperbolic contraction. Therefore, the numerical technique used was validated due to the close similarity between the numerically and experimentally obtained results. The tested CFD model can be used to optimize the microchannel design by minimizing the need to fabricate prototypes and evaluate them experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Barbosa
- Mechanical Engineering and Resource Sustainability Center (METRICS), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal;
| | - Jorge Dueñas-Pamplona
- Departamento de Ingeniería Energética, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Cristiano S. Abreu
- Center for MicroElectromechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal;
- LABBELS—Associate Laboratory, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Physics Department, Porto Superior Engineering Institute, ISEP, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mónica S. N. Oliveira
- James Weir Fluids Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK;
| | - Rui A. Lima
- Mechanical Engineering and Resource Sustainability Center (METRICS), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal;
- CEFT—Transport Phenomena Research Center, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE—Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
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Aghaamoo M, Cardenas-Benitez B, Lee AP. A High-Throughput Microfluidic Cell Sorter Using a Three-Dimensional Coupled Hydrodynamic-Dielectrophoretic Pre-Focusing Module. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1813. [PMID: 37893250 PMCID: PMC10609158 DOI: 10.3390/mi14101813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a powerful tool for label-free sorting of cells, even those with subtle differences in morphological and dielectric properties. Nevertheless, a major limitation is that most existing DEP techniques can efficiently sort cells only at low throughputs (<1 mL h-1). Here, we demonstrate that the integration of a three-dimensional (3D) coupled hydrodynamic-DEP cell pre-focusing module upstream of the main DEP sorting region enables cell sorting with a 10-fold increase in throughput compared to conventional DEP approaches. To better understand the key principles and requirements for high-throughput cell separation, we present a comprehensive theoretical model to study the scaling of hydrodynamic and electrostatic forces on cells at high flow rate regimes. Based on the model, we show that the critical cell-to-electrode distance needs to be ≤10 µm for efficient cell sorting in our proposed microfluidic platform, especially at flow rates ≥ 1 mL h-1. Based on those findings, a computational fluid dynamics model and particle tracking analysis were developed to find optimum operation parameters (e.g., flow rate ratios and electric fields) of the coupled hydrodynamic-DEP 3D focusing module. Using these optimum parameters, we experimentally demonstrate live/dead K562 cell sorting at rates as high as 10 mL h-1 (>150,000 cells min-1) with 90% separation purity, 85% cell recovery, and no negative impact on cell viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Aghaamoo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (M.A.); (B.C.-B.)
- Center for Advanced Design & Manufacturing of Integrated Microfluidics (CADMIM), University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Braulio Cardenas-Benitez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (M.A.); (B.C.-B.)
- Center for Advanced Design & Manufacturing of Integrated Microfluidics (CADMIM), University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Abraham P. Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; (M.A.); (B.C.-B.)
- Center for Advanced Design & Manufacturing of Integrated Microfluidics (CADMIM), University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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Babaki M, Fedosov DA, Gholivand A, Opdam J, Tuinier R, Lettinga MP. Competition between deformation and free volume quantified by 3D image analysis of red blood cell. Biophys J 2023; 122:1646-1658. [PMID: 36964658 PMCID: PMC10183325 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells in living organisms are subjected to mechanical strains caused by external forces like overcrowding, resulting in strong deformations that affect cell function. We study the interplay between deformation and crowding of red blood cells (RBCs) in dispersions of nonabsorbing rod-like viruses. We identify a sequence of configurational transitions of RBC doublets, including configurations that can only be induced by long-ranged attraction: highly fluctuating T-shaped and face-to-face configurations at low, and doublets approaching a complete spherical configuration at high, rod concentrations. Complementary simulations are used to explore different energy contributions to deformation as well as the stability of RBC doublet configurations. Our advanced analysis of 3D reconstructed confocal images of RBC doublets quantifies the depletion interaction and the resulting deformation energy. Thus, we introduce a noninvasive, high-throughput platform that is generally applicable to investigate the mechanical response of biological cells to external forces and characterize their mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrnaz Babaki
- Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dmitry A Fedosov
- Institute of Biological Information Processing and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Amirreza Gholivand
- Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joeri Opdam
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Remco Tuinier
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Minne Paul Lettinga
- Institute of Biological Information Processing IBI-4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Thompson W, Papoutsakis ET. The role of biomechanical stress in extracellular vesicle formation, composition and activity. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 66:108158. [PMID: 37105240 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cornerstones of intercellular communication with exciting fundamental, clinical, and more broadly biotechnological applications. However, variability in EV composition, which results from the culture conditions used to generate the EVs, poses significant fundamental and applied challenges and a hurdle for scalable bioprocessing. Thus, an understanding of the relationship between EV production (and for clinical applications, manufacturing) and EV composition is increasingly recognized as important and necessary. While chemical stimulation and culture conditions such as cell density are known to influence EV biology, the impact of biomechanical forces on the generation, properties, and biological activity of EVs remains poorly understood. Given the omnipresence of these forces in EV preparation and in biomanufacturing, expanding the understanding of their impact on EV composition-and thus, activity-is vital. Although several publications have examined EV preparation and bioprocessing and briefly discussed biomechanical stresses as variables of interest, this review represents the first comprehensive evaluation of the impact of such stresses on EV production, composition and biological activity. We review how EV biogenesis, cargo, efficacy, and uptake are uniquely affected by various types, magnitudes, and durations of biomechanical forces, identifying trends that emerge both generically and for individual cell types. We also describe implications for scalable bioprocessing, evaluating processes inherent in common EV production and isolation methods, and propose a path forward for rigorous EV quality control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Will Thompson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, DE 19713, USA
| | - Eleftherios Terry Papoutsakis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, DE 19713, USA.
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Zainal Abidin NA, Timofeeva M, Szydzik C, Akbaridoust F, Lav C, Marusic I, Mitchell A, Hamilton JR, Ooi AS, Nesbitt WS. A microfluidic method to investigate platelet mechanotransduction under extensional strain. Res Pract Thromb Haemost 2023; 7:100037. [PMID: 36846647 PMCID: PMC9944983 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpth.2023.100037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Blood platelets have evolved a complex mechanotransduction machinery to rapidly respond to hemodynamic conditions. A variety of microfluidic flow-based approaches have been developed to explore platelet mechanotransduction; however, these experimental models primarily focus on the effects of increased wall shear stress on platelet adhesion events and do not consider the critical effects of extensional strain on platelet activation in free flow. Objectives We report the development and application of a hyperbolic microfluidic assay that allows for investigation of platelet mechanotransduction under quasi-homogenous extensional strain rates in the absence of surface adhesions. Methods Using a combined computational fluid dynamic and experimental microfluidic approach, we explore 5 extensional strain regimes (geometries) and their effect on platelet calcium signal transduction. Results We demonstrate that in the absence of canonical adhesion, receptor engagement platelets are highly sensitive to both initial increase and subsequent decrease in extensional strain rates within the range of 747 to 3319/s. Furthermore, we demonstrate that platelets rapidly respond to the rate of change in extensional strain and define a threshold of ≥7.33 × 106/s/m, with an optimal range of 9.21 × 107 to 1.32 × 108/s/m. In addition, we demonstrate a key role of both the actin-based cytoskeleton and annular microtubules in the modulation of extensional strain-mediated platelet mechanotransduction. Conclusion This method opens a window onto a novel platelet signal transduction mechanism and may have potential diagnostic utility in the identification of patients who are prone to thromboembolic complications associated with high-grade arterial stenosis or are on mechanical circulatory support systems, for which the extensional strain rate is a predominant hemodynamic driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurul A. Zainal Abidin
- The Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mariia Timofeeva
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Crispin Szydzik
- The Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Farzan Akbaridoust
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chitrarth Lav
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Scuderia AlphaTauri F1, Bicester, UK
| | - Ivan Marusic
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Arnan Mitchell
- School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Justin R. Hamilton
- The Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew S.H. Ooi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Warwick S. Nesbitt
- The Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Correspondence Warwick S. Nesbitt, The Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
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Distribution and history of extensional stresses on vWF surrogate molecules in turbulent flow. Sci Rep 2022; 12:171. [PMID: 34997036 PMCID: PMC8742075 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04034-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The configuration of proteins is critical for their biochemical behavior. Mechanical stresses that act on them can affect their behavior leading to the development of decease. The von Willebrand factor (vWF) protein circulating with the blood loses its efficacy when it undergoes non-physiological hemodynamic stresses. While often overlooked, extensional stresses can affect the structure of vWF at much lower stress levels than shear stresses. The statistical distribution of extensional stress as it applies on models of the vWF molecule within turbulent flow was examined here. The stress on the molecules of the protein was calculated with computations that utilized a Lagrangian approach for the determination of the molecule trajectories in the flow filed. The history of the stresses on the proteins was also calculated. Two different flow fields were considered as models of typical flows in cardiovascular mechanical devises, one was a Poiseuille flow and the other was a Poiseuille–Couette flow field. The data showed that the distribution of stresses is important for the design of blood flow devices because the average stress can be below the critical value for protein damage, but tails of the distribution can be outside the critical stress regime.
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