Adhesion of red blood cells to thrombin activated endothelial cells in plasma like suspensions.

• Main Author: Lin, Cheryl Shuyi.
• Other Authors: Bjoern Holger Neu
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering::Biochemical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/16655
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In the cardiovascular system, adhesive interactions between RBCs and ECs are necessary in processes such as inflammation and hemastasis. However, abnormal RBC-EC interactions also occur, causing tissue damage or death. As such, this project was carried out to determine the effects of plasma proteins on abnormal RBC-EC interaction in blood, under in-vitro conditions. The effect of plasma proteins on thrombin treated RBCs and ECs were studied using a parallel plate flow chamber system. Variables used in determining the effect of thrombin and plasma proteins on RBC-EC adhesion included: Thrombin concentration, shear stress and Dextran molecular weight. Experimental results concluded that thrombin induces RBC-EC adhesion. The effect of increasing thrombin concentration on RBC-EC adhesion followed the trend of a bellshaped curve, which peaks at thrombin concentration of 0.05 U/ml. Upon introducing the influence of dextran to thrombin treated RBCs and ECs, strength of RBC-EC adhesion increases significantly, possibly due to depletion interaction facilitating the adhesion process.