Vesicles in Poiseuille flow.
Blood microcirculation critically depends on the migration of red cells towards the flow centerline. We identify theoretically the ratio of the inner over the outer fluid viscosities lambda as a key parameter. At low lambda, the vesicle deforms into a tank-treading ellipsoid shape far away from the flow centerline. The migration is always towards the flow centerline, unlike drops. Above a critical lambda, the vesicle tumbles or breaths and migration is suppressed. A surprising coexistence of two types of shapes at the centerline, a bulletlike and a parachutelike shape, is predicted.
Danker
Gerrit
G
Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Physique, UMR, 140 avenue de la physique, Université Joseph Fourier Grenoble, and CNRS, 38402 Saint Martin d'Heres, France.
Vlahovska
Petia M
PM
Misbah
Chaouqi
C
D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular