Sickle cell occlusion in microchannels

Abstract

We describe the development of a method to study the mechanical aspects of occlusion of small vessels by sickled cells, which is an essential feature of the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease. The method involves microfluidic channels of diameters smaller than red cells, with thickness that can permit measurement of absorption spectra to ascertain intracellular concentration. Laser photolysis is used to convert carboxyhemoglobin into deoxyhemoglobin which creates the rigid polymers that lead to occlusion. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.