Protocol for inspecting blood cell dynamics with a custom ektacytometer-rheometer apparatus

Tom Fitzpatrick; Michael J Simmonds; Antony P McNamee

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101279

Protocol for inspecting blood cell dynamics with a custom ektacytometer-rheometer apparatus

STAR Protoc. 2022 Apr 7;3(2):101279. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101279. eCollection 2022 Jun 17.

Authors

Tom Fitzpatrick¹, Michael J Simmonds², Antony P McNamee²

Affiliations

¹ School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia.
² Biorheology Research Laboratory, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia.

Abstract

Investigating flowing red blood cell (RBC) morphology and orientation is important for elucidating physiology and disease; existing commercially available products are limited to observing cell populations or single cells. In this protocol, we create a custom apparatus that combines coaxial brightfield microscopy with laser diffractometry to inspect near-real-time deformability, morphology, and orientation of flowing RBCs. There are difficulties associated with building optical systems for biological inspection; however, this protocol provides a suitable framework for developing an "ektacytoscope" for studying blood cells. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to McNamee et al. (2020).

Keywords: Biophysics; Biotechnology and bioengineering; Cell Biology; Cell Membrane; Microscopy; Physics; Systems biology.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Erythrocytes* / physiology
Hematologic Tests*
Lasers