Red blood cells (RBCs) have remarkable mechanical properties that are major determinants of blood flow. This is made possible by the unique structure of the erythrocytes. The RBC membrane consists of a membrane skellton accounting for shear elasticity and and a lipid bilayer that regulates the bending rigidity. Deformation of RBC is a key property to ensure efficient passage through the microcirculation. A number of diseases such as diabetes may cause changes in the RBC’s deformability and the physical properties of the erythrocyte plasma membrane due to oxidative and other chemical stresses.
Research:
- RBC mechanical properties using fluctuation microscopy
- properties of the RBC membranes in the monolayer model: examining microdomain organization via Langmuir trough technique coupled with fluorescence microscopy, X-ray reflectivity and gracing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD)
- alteration of the ATP release of RBC: ATP is a signaling agent regulating vasodilation