Initial platelet aggregation in the complex shear environment of a punctured vessel model

Abstract

To analyze flow conditions and cellular behavior at the onset of a hemostatic response in the injury of a microneedle-induced vessel puncture, a combined in silico and in vitro platform is created. A cell-resolved blood flow model is utilized for in-depth flow profile and cell distribution analyses, and a novel punctured vessel flow chamber is set up to complement the simulations with the evaluation of platelet aggregation around the wound neck of the puncture. The respective setups of the platform are explained, and the results of both experiments and simulations with various puncture diameters and pressure drops are combined, providing detailed insight into the basic processes of platelet transport and aggregation in the wound area. A special emphasis of the simulation evaluation is put on the cell distributions and the magnitude of shear rate and elongational flow in the wound neck area, as well as downstream from the puncture. Additionally, possible implications of wound size and pressure difference on the hemostatic response are discussed. The simulations display asymmetric cell distributions between the proximal and distal sides of the wound neck in regard to the flow direction. The flow chamber with the puncture diameter closest to the simulated domains confirms this asymmetry by displaying increased platelet aggregation at the wound neck's distal side. The presented punctured vessel in silico and in vitro experimental setups offer a platform to analyze the hemostatic environment of a vessel injured by a puncture and might assist in identifying differentiating factors between primary hemostasis and arterial thrombosis.