Depletion-model-based numerical simulation of the kinetics of red blood cell aggregation under sinusoidal pulsatile flow

BACKGROUND: Previous numerical modeling studies on red blood cell (RBC) aggregation have elucidated the inverse relationship between shear rate and RBC aggregation under steady flow. However, information on the cyclic variation in RBC aggregation under pulsatile flow remains lacking. OBJECTIVE: RBC aggregation was simulated to investigate the complex interrelationships among the parameters of RBC motion under pulsatile flow. METHODS: A two-dimensional particle model was used to simulate RBC motion driven by hydrodynamic, aggregation, and elastic forces in a sinusoidal pulsatile flow field. The kinetics of RBCs motion was simulated on the basis of the depletion model. RESULTS: The simulation results corresponded with previously obtained experimental results for the formation and destruction of RBC aggregates with a parabolic radial distribution during a pulsatile cycle. In addition, the results demonstrated that the cyclic variation in the mean aggregate size of RBCs increased as velocity amplitude increased from 1 cm/s to 3 cm/s under a mean steady flow of 2 cm/s, as mean steady flow velocity decreased from 6 cm/s to 2 cm/s under a velocity amplitude of 1.5 cm/s, and as stroke rate decreased from 180 beats per minute (bpm) to 60 bpm. CONCLUSIONS: The present simulation results verified previous experimental results and improved the current understanding of the complex spatiotemporal changes experienced by RBC aggregates during a sinusoidal pulsatile cycle.