Red blood cell-deformability measurement: Review of techniques

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Musielak, M.

Affiliations: Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Malgorzata Musielak, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Chocimska 5 St., 00-957 Warsaw, Poland. Fax: +48 22/848 06 37; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Cell-deformability characterization involves general measurement of highly complex relationships between cell biology and physical forces to which the cell is subjected. The review takes account of the modern technical solutions simulating the action of the force applied to the red blood cell in macro- and microcirculation. Diffraction ektacytometers and rheoscopes measure the mean deformability value for the total red blood cell population investigated and the deformation distribution index of individual cells, respectively. Deformation assays of a whole single cell are possible by means of optical tweezers. The single cell-measuring setups for micropipette aspiration and atomic force microscopy allow conducting a selective investigation of deformation parameters (e.g., cytoplasm viscosity, viscoelastic membrane properties). The distinction between instrument sensitivity to various RBC-rheological features as well as the influence of temperature on measurement are discussed. The reports quoted confront fascinating possibilities of the techniques with their medical applications since the RBC-deformability has the key position in the etiology of a wide range of conditions.

Keywords: Diffraction ektacytometers, rheoscopes, atomic force microscopy, optical tweezers

DOI: 10.3233/CH-2009-1187

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 42, no. 1, pp. 47-64, 2009