English

Rupture Forces among Human Blood Platelets at different Degrees of Activation

Biological Physics 2020-12-22 v1

Abstract

Little is known about mechanics underlying the interaction among platelets during activation and aggregation. Although the strength of a blood thrombus has likely major biological importance, no previous study has measured directly the adhesion forces of single platelet-platelet interaction at different activation states. Here, we filled this void first, by minimizing surface mediated platelet activation and second, by generating a strong adhesion force between a single platelet and an AFM cantilever, preventing early platelet detachment. We applied our setup to measure rupture forces between two platelets using different platelet activation states, and blockade of platelet receptors. The rupture force was found to increase proportionally to the degree of platelet activation, but reduced with blockade of specific platelet receptors. Quantification of single platelet-platelet interaction provides major perspectives for testing and improving biocompatibility of new materials; quantifying the effect of drugs on platelet function; and assessing the mechanical characteristics of acquired/inherited platelet defects.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2012.10529,
  title  = {Rupture Forces among Human Blood Platelets at different Degrees of Activation},
  author = {Thi-Huong Nguyen and Raghavendra Palankar and Van-Chien Bui and Nikolay Medvedev and Andreas Greinacher and Mihaela Delcea},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2012.10529},
  year   = {2020}
}