The evaluation of interaction between red blood cells in blood coagulation by optical tweezers

To maintain the life of patients with hemophilia, apoplexy or hemorrhage, appropriate blood coagulation is crucial. To study the microscopic phenomena of blood coagulation and the therapeutic effects of blood medication, optical tweezers were applied to estimate the interaction between red blood cells in the coagulation process. By measuring minimum optical power required to trap the coagulating blood cells, the pN-scale interaction between them can be evaluated. In normal blood sample, the interaction rises in accordance with coagulation time. The addition of heparin attenuates the interaction and postpones the coagulation, whereas the addition of tranexamic acid starts the coagulation early at the beginning and allows the process completed in less time. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 21:505-510 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.