(230at) Dynamics of Thrombus Formation in a Microfluidic Network Mimicking Vasculature

The reaction dynamics of a complex mixture of cells and proteins, such as blood, in branched networks within microvasculature, as for instance in brain, remains ill-defined. In this work, we utilize an interconnected microfluidic network with dimensions mimicking venules to study patterns of platelet aggregation and fibrin formation under complex shear. Devices were coated with fibrillar collagen and tissue factor to facilitate platelet aggregation and fibrin formation. Blood was perfused through the microfluidic device at a physiologically relevant shear rate. We observed distinct flow and thrombus formation patterns near channel intersections and stagnation points using fluorescent microscopy. A non-Newtonian fluid mechanics model blood was developed for blood flow in microfluidic networks. Red blood cells and platelets were assumed to be non-interacting particles transported by the bulk fluid flow through visous drag force. Based on the insights from these models, we were able to provide metrics that quantify the spatial and temporal locations of thombus formation in these networks. Findings from this proof-of-principle microfluidic network model suggests a specific correlation between microvascular geometry and thrombus formation dynamics under shear perturbed flow. We believe that this integrative approach has a huge potential in identifying thrombus-susceptible vascular regions within a complex network, such as human organ vasculature.