title: Profiling of individual human red blood cells under osmotic stress using defocusing microscopy.
abstract: We use a quantitative phase imaging technique, defocusing microscopy (DM), to measure morphological, chemical, and mechanical parameters of individual red blood cells (RBCs) immersed in solutions with different osmolalities. We monitor the RBCs’ radius, volume, surface area, sphericity index, and hemoglobin content and concentration. The complete shape of cells is recovered and the effects of their adhesion to the glass substrate are observed. Finally, membrane fluctuation measurements give us information about the cells deformability.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Física, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula M S
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Roma
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Física, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Siman
authors.affiliation: University of Chicago, James Franck Institute, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics and Physics Department, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hissa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Física, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ubirajara
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Agero
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Parasitologia, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erika M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Física, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Oscar N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Mesquita