Work

Fluid Mechanics of Blood Cells and Vesicles Squeezing Through Narrow Constrictions

Year: 2025

Type: review

Abstract: The squeezing of blood cells and vesicles through narrow constrictions, such as splenic slits, pulmonary capillaries, vascular endothelial gaps, and microfluidic channels, is crucial in physiology and biotechnology, with fluid mechanics playing a central role. The diverse geometries of these constrictions, the associated flow conditions, and the unique mechanical properties of cells and vesicles create a rich subject in fluid mechanics emerging from nonlinear dynamics of fluid–structure interactions involving both lubrication and Marangoni flows. Advances in microfluidics, video microscopy, and computational modeling have enabled investigations into these complex processes. This review surveys the key features and approaches, recent prominent studies, and unresolved challenges related to these processes, offering insights for researchers across biomechanics, biomedical engineering, biological physics, hematology, physiology, and applied mathematics.

Source: Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics

DOI: 10.1146/annurev-fluid-112723-052727

Authors: Zhangli Peng, Annie Viallat, Yuan-Nan Young

Institutions: University of Illinois Chicago, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Blood properties and coagulation

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Agence Nationale de la Recherche

Awards: CenTuri : Centre Turing des Systèmes vivants, Collaborative Research NSF-ANR: Mechanisms of terminal erythroid enucleation, Markers of Spleen Function for Patient Management